THE FARMER'S MANUAL. 

 From the Pennsylvania Farmer, 



i: Mft. HOLBROOK OF DERBY. 



" I have used Gypsurn, or plaster, for several years?, 

 as a manure. I have put many tons of it upon my 

 own land, and have furnished my neighbours with it, 

 both they, and I, have derived great benefits from it. 

 One of my neighbours sowed a quantity upon his up- 

 land mowing, and his crop of grass was greatly bet- 

 tered, as well as increased to three times as much as 

 the crop upon his adjoining land. I dressed a piece 

 of land with it, on part of which I used to spread a 

 run of water. Where the water was spread, I could 

 not perceive that I derived the least advantage from 

 the plaster, but the other part of the field produced 

 white clover in abundance. I had four times the 

 quantity of hay in proportion from the land dressed 

 with the plaster, that I had from the land adjoining, 

 on which none had been put ; and the land on which 

 the plaster was put had no advantage over the other; 

 but merely what it derived from the plaster. 



" In the year 1790, 1 dressed my land with plaster on 

 which my wheat was sowed. I could not perceive, at 

 any time, that the wheat derived the least advantage 

 from it. In September 1 791 , I sowed rye, and in April 

 1792 I sowed clover. The rye appeared to receive 

 but little advantage ; but the clover was fine and was 

 materially benefited. In 1793, the crop of clover 

 was very good. In 1795, I sowed the same piece 

 with rye, and had a very good crop. Whether the 

 plaster sown in 1791, benefited the rye, or whether 

 it was through the assistance of the clover that the 

 crop was so much improved, I am unable to say; 

 but 1 am persuaded that I never did before receive so 

 great benefit to my wheat or rye, from the same quan- 

 tity of clover, as my crop now received from some 

 cause. In 1 796, 1 sowed it with rye, and harvested in 

 1797 ; but perceived no difference between this part 



