Dr. MuhUnberg on Tall-Meadow-Oats, ^c. 215 



might join hands, and the literary and intelligent men of this 

 country might have more intercourfe. How much could be 

 done for the profperity of thefe States ! We do not know 

 the half of our riches. Agriculture will, I hope, be our chief 

 ftudy, "and be the means to raife the Americans, amongft the 

 firft nations of the earth. Manufadures are now indeed in 

 their infancy, but the many good materials we have in this 

 country, promife more encouragement if we learn to know 

 and efteem them. 



The gypfum has had many fair trials in our neighbourhood, 

 and on dry poor lands has always anfwered our expedations. 

 I could never obferve any efFeft on dry or v^^ell-manured lands. 

 Clover, oats, and indian corn, agree befl with it. Apple-trees 

 have likewife been much benefited. We fow it early in the 

 fpring, three or four bufliels to an acre, before we exped rain. 

 I made a number of experiments with gypfum, and never 

 found any harm ; but we muft import it ; and, as an American, 

 I wilh a fubflitute. I think pulverized limc-Jionc is of the fame 

 fervice, and fome of cur lime-ftones are eafy pounded, and 

 ufed in the fame manner as gypfum. If Mr. Meyer (the firft 

 that ufed gypfum and recommended it fo warmly to the world) 

 is not millaken, stone-coals pulverized, are Jafer and go 

 farther in melicrating the lands than gypjavi. I heartily wifh 

 fome of your agricultural friends would make an experiment 

 with our American Jlone-coal -y 4coIb3. arc neceflary to 18a 



