58 A Letter on the Ufe of Plaijler of Paris. 



Aprils it was well harrowed, and crofs ploughed, four inches 

 deep, widi a light two-horfe plough, leaving the fod at the 

 bottom. The field was fowed with fpring barley ; at harveft, 

 the difference of the crop was allonifhingly great in favour of 

 the part where the Gypfam had been put, two years before. 

 This ground is now under wheat and winter barley, which have 

 a promifmg appearance : the rotted fod, being turned up and 

 mixed with the foil, affords a ftrong nourifhment to the 

 prefent crop. 



5th. I PUT a quantity of GypfuiUy three years ago, on feveral 

 fmall patches of a tough fod ; it produced a difference in the 

 ftrength of vegetation, which is ftill obfervable. 



From the above recited experiments it appears — 



ift. That there is no difference between the European and 

 American Gypfum.. 



2d. That Gypfum a6ls as an immediate manure to grafs,. 

 and afterwards in an equal degree to grain. 



3d. That one drefling will continue in force feveral fuc- 

 ceeding crops. 



Gypsum not producing any remarkably beneficial effefts, 

 when ufed as a top dreffmg to grain, may arife from two caufes ; 

 firft, from the fmall quantity made ufe of, which is loft in the 

 rough ground ; and fecondly, from the fhort time of its appli- 

 cation. It has been found of advantage to Indian corn> but m 



