2iS FARMER'S ASSISTANT. 



It has been successfully applied to old meadow-land of 

 timothy-grass; to growing crops of wheat; and on lands 

 near the ocean ; in all of which cases the Novascotia gyp- 

 sum is usually applied with little or no effect. 



In another instance, however, we have seen it inoperative 

 on timothy-grass, on a dry loam ; while it had its usual ef- 

 fect on the clover growing on the same soil. Its effects 

 are not always the same ; but most certain when applied to 

 clover, by greatly increasing that crop, and by puting the 

 land in good condition for almost any other, when the 

 clover-sward is turned under. 



As gypsum, when sown on suitable grounds, always pro- 

 duces a spontaneous growth of white-clover; and as this 

 growth is an infallible indication ot the soil being thus ren- 

 dered in good condition for a crop of wheat, or rye ; where, 

 therefore, either of these crops is to be raised on fallow- 

 grounds, the better way is to sow the gypsum early in the 

 Spring, and, as soon as the growth of this clover is produc- 

 ed, break up the soil, and prepare it for the crop, by further 

 ploughings in due season; and in this way the product will 

 commonly be double what might be expected on the same 

 ground, without the application of this manure. 



Thus, suppose that the ground be a dry loam, or gravelly 

 loam, so exhausted that ten bushels to the acre, ot wheat, 

 could only be obtained by the common culture ; let two 

 bushels of gypsum to the acre be applied, early in the 

 Spring, and by the middle of June, or sooner in more south- 

 erly climates, the ground will be covered with a sward of 

 white-clover; and then, with the same culture, twenty bush- 

 els to the acre may be expected, and the ground will be ia 

 much better condition for another crop. 



The same difference may be expected, where a crap of 

 rye is to be raised, on ground suitable to its growth. 



The most powerful operation of this manure, in propor- 

 tion to the quantity used, is in applying it to dry the seeds, 

 after being soaked in some fertilizing liquor, such as a mix- 

 ture of old urine, lye ot wood-ashes, or strong soapsuds, 

 with a solution of saltpetre, and sown or planted immedi- 

 ately. 



The effects of such treatment on seeds of Indian corn f 

 buckwheat, peas, oats, barley, and perhaps flax, will proba- 

 bly be found the greatest; but, if the gypsum of the State 

 oT Newyork be used, perhaps its effects may be found more 

 generally useful. 



When potatoes are cut for planting, it is of singular use 

 to the growth of the crop to sprinkle on gypsum, before the 

 cut parts have dried ; and also to apply some to the hills> 

 before the seed is covered, about a table spoonful to 



