458 APPENDIX. 



Agricultural Society of Philadelphia, where gypsum had no effect on 

 wornout lands, till they wire first manured with lime. 



British Writers say that lime may he applied with equal advantage, 

 either when newly slaked or afterwards; that its effects are not 

 always the same, particularly where soils are different; but that 

 usually it is a very durable manure. A much larger quantity is, how- 

 ever, applied in Greatbritain, than has been usual here; but perhaps 

 the coolness of the Summers there renders more requisite. We 

 pretend to advise to no particular rules in the application of lime in 

 this Country, farther than that about forty bushels to the acre be first 

 tried; but less for sandy soils, and perhaps more for those which are 

 stiff clays, would be advisable. In clays of this description, lime is 

 particularly useful in destroying * ne> adhesive quality of such soils, 

 and thereby rendering them a mere friable loam. Such has been its 

 effects on the clay -lands which abound so much in England. Where 

 the lime is magnesian, let trials be made of about twenty bushels to 

 the acre. 



That Country abounds much in th calcareous matter denominated 

 Chalk, which is also converted into lime by calcination, and used as 

 a manure. It forms a weaker sort of lime. As this substance, how- 

 ever, is hardly to be found in this Country, it will be unnecessary 

 further to speak of this manure. 



Gy/:su?n (sulphate of lime) is a most powerful stimulant te the 

 growth of many crops, in all dry soils in this Country; but with the 

 following exceptions: It h:..s no sensible effect on lands newly clear- 

 ed, on those in the vicinity of the ocean, nor on those which have 

 been completely exhausted by severe croping. In soils of this latter 

 description, some pabulous matter must be given them for the gyp- 

 sum to digest or act upon; and this may be a previous manuring 

 with lime, marie, bog -earth, burn-dung, or perhaps any substance that 

 Is calculated to improve the condition of the soil. It should also be 

 observed, that the application of gypsum frequently fails entirely of 

 producing its effects, if followed by uncommon drought, or unusually 

 iv et weather. It is gvneralU most powerful, when applied to growths 

 of leguminous plants, to those extending in vines, such as the vari- 

 ous species of the gourd-tribe, the strawberry, &c. and to several 

 sorts of the green-crops, particularly potatoes, clover-grasses, lu- 

 cern, &c. On fibrous rooted grasses, and those grain-plants most 

 nearly related to them, such as wheat, rye, oats, barley, Sec. it has 

 no sensible effect, when applied as a top-dressing to the growing 

 plants. On Buckwheat it is very powerful, and for Indian corn it is 

 also valuable. 



Judge Pctcrst of Pennsylvania, whose experience of its uses has 

 been long and extensive, says, that although he has found this ma- 

 nure of little use to many sorts of plants, when applied to them as a 

 top-dressing; yet he has invariably found that all plants derive bene- 

 fit from their seeds being rolled in gypsum, after being soaked in 

 some liquid before sowing or planting. As a manure, however, for 

 wheat, or grain-crops of similar kinds, immense benefit may be de- 

 rived from it, by applying it to the sward, as a top-dressing, as uitable 

 length of time before the ground is broken up. In this way, two 

 bushels of gypsum may be made, to give an additional increase of 

 eight, or ten bushels of wheat to the acre. Take, for instance, land 

 vhich in its natural state, and with the usual culture, will only yield 

 ten bushels of wheat to the acre ; in the Fall, or early in the Spring, 

 give it a top. dressing of two hushels of grypsum to the acre; by the 

 middle of June following the land will exhibit a fresh green-sward, 

 principally of white-clover; and when land is thus clothed in ver- 



