On plaster of Paris. i 87 



tionary friend and successful agriculturist, colonel Taylor 

 of Caroline, differs with me on the subject. He prefers 

 plougjhing in dry ve^^etable matter. But that I might not 

 differ without frequent trials ; I have tested his practice 

 repeatedl} . I cannot agree with him on this point ; though 

 I value his opinions on most others.* His land may re- 

 quire artificial separation of its parts. I speak of loamy 

 soils ; such as mine, and thousands of others. The same 

 medicine will not suit different maladies. Beside, we all 

 know that putrefaction is indispensable, before vegetable 

 matter can operate on plants ; — without assigning chemi- 

 cal reasons. To effect putrefaction, there must be con- 

 tiguity^ moisture^ and heat. Now the earth holds in sepa- 

 ration the dry stalks of clover or corn ; and prevents con- 

 tiguity to assist mutual putrefaction. I have seen stumps 

 or stools of Indian corn, unrotted, after lying in the soil 

 two years. So of corn stalks; and sometimes dry hay 

 or clover. This may not be always the case ; but no one 

 ever saw green crops ploughed in, remain unrotted. I 

 have also the misfortune, (if it be one,) to differ in the ap- 

 plication of muck. I have never found, that unrotted 

 muck, or stable manure, went through the putrefying 

 process, when ploughed in fresh ; either so effectually, or 

 so rapidly, as that forwarded in the dung-pen, and plough- 

 ed in fermenting, and in its advance to putrefaction and 

 decomposition. Your observations on clover, and the 

 bad style of culture, which prevents its duration, are per- 

 fectly rational. But clover, like all other crops, too long 



* See our 1st vol. p. 333. Colonel Taylor's own experience, 

 " that green bushes with their leaves, enrich considerably be- 

 yond dry.^ 



The fact evidentl}: is, that the fertilising qualities of those 

 leaves, and of the whole succulent substance of herbaceous 

 plants, pass away in the desiccation ; and leave the debris a 

 mere inoperative caput mortuum. 



