On plaster of Paris. 185 



in one day ; and that the last ploughing of dead clover, 

 produced double the wheat the other did May it not 

 be owing to his clover not being near as large as oi.rs, 

 and his land of a more adhesive quality? Your obser- 

 vations on this subject will be very gn.tefuliy received. 

 I have been mowing the clover on the rankest parts of 

 my fields, to be fallowed, and spreading what I cut ofFthem 

 on poor hills, as I have plenty of hay on other parts of 

 my farm ; the object is to keep it green until I plough. 



Very respectfully, 



Abiel Jenners. 

 Richard Peters, Esq. 



Belmont, June ^^Ith, 1824. 

 Dear Sir, 



No apology is necessary for your inquiries in rela- 

 tion to the clover husbandry. Although I have inter- 

 mitted my practical pursuits, in a great degree ; yet lam 

 constantly desirous of doing all the service in my power, 

 to those who are more active than my sta^re of life permits 

 me to be. I am endeavouring to collect, from some of 

 our Pennsylvania farmers, actual /cjc?^; and not wavering 

 or ill founded opinions, on the subject ; and I think I 

 shall establish the correctness of the account given from 

 the beginning, of the qualities and powers of the plaster : 

 so as to shew that it is the improvident use of it, and the 

 overweening reliance on it, exclusive of those auxiliaries 

 it requires, which have brought it into disrepute with 

 many farmers ; n< t only in your country, but in other 

 parts of our Union. Scientific discussions as to its compo- 

 sition and qualities, are understood by few^; and even they 

 differ about its operation. There is however no doubt as 

 to the component parts of it. But in what manner, or by 



