XYIL 



COMMERCIAL FERTILIZERS GYPSUM. 



PRICES vary so widely in different localities that no 

 fertilizer can be pronounced everywhere cheapest or 

 best worth buying ; and yet I doubt that there is a 

 rood of our country's surface in fit condition to be 

 cultivated to which Gypsum (Plaster of Paris) might 

 not be applied with profit. "Where it costs $10 or 

 over per tun, I would apply it sparingly say, one 

 bushel per acre while I judge three bushels per acre 

 none too much in regions where it may be bought 

 much cheaper. Even the poor man who has but one 

 cow, should buy a barrel of it, and dust his stable 

 therewith after cleaning it each day. He who has a 

 stock of cattle should never be without it, and should 

 freely use it, alike in stable and yard, to keep down 

 the noisome odors, and thus retain the volatile ele- 

 ments of the manure. Every meadow, every pas- 

 ture, should be sown with it at least triennially ; 

 where it is abundant and cheap, as in Central New- 

 York, I would apply it each year, unless careful ob- 

 servation should satisfy me that it no longer sub- 

 served a good purpose. 



As to the time of application, while I judge any 



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