126 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



[No. 2. 



spots; texture very close and hard. Lost rather 

 more tlian 22 per cent. 



5th. A quantity of manufactured gypsum 

 bought in the barrel — lost 20 per cent. An 

 equal quantity manufactured at home from pieces 

 of the above mentioned varieties — lost rather more 

 than 24 per cent. 



Should the heating of gypsum be considered 

 as presenting a test whereby to ascertain its quali- 

 ties, it would appear from the above, that gypsum 

 presenting the appearance of the first mentioned 

 specimen, is the best for manure — allowing that 

 that which contains the greatest proportion of wa- 

 ter, which I believe seldom exceeds 30 percent., is 

 of most value. But in presenting you with the 

 above remark, I beg not to be understood, as posi- 

 tively affirming, that such is the cose — though I 

 think it highly probable. I trust however, that 

 some one of your readers may be induced to make 

 the experiment on a larger scale than I have an 

 opportunity of doing, and whose chemical know- 

 ledge would be adequate to present more satisfac- 

 tory results, than my limited experience of that 

 important science to agriculture enables me do. 



A NICOL. 



[The experiment reported above is interesting;, and 

 its result may lead to much saving of labor in preparing 

 gypsum — and thus enable the farmer to avoid the 

 frauds of some of those who grind for sale. We have 

 made a similar experiment this spring, and in like man- 

 ner found equal benefit from the gypsum prepared 

 with, and without heat. But in this case, the burnt 

 g\ psum was perhaps more finely pulverized, and there- 

 fore the fitter for immediate effect: and we should re- 

 quire longer time, and more trials, before deciding pos- 

 itively. The practical result however, is just such as 

 theory (directed by knowledge of the chemical com- 

 position of gypsum) would have indicated, though in 

 opposition to the generally prevailing opinion. (See 

 remarks on this head at page 603 and 631, vol. II.) 



The water chemically combined with gypsum is in 

 an unvarying proportion — which is 22 per cent., ac- 

 cording to the now received opinion. [Rogers' Guide 

 to Geology.'] Therefore no more than 22 per cent, of 

 weight could be lost by driving off the water alone 

 from the purest gypsum — and the excess of loss, above 

 that proportion, shows that this test (at least as used by 

 our correspondent,) cannot be relied on, except per- 

 haps for comparative results. He lost more than the 

 water chemically combined in every trial but one. 

 This excess of loss might be of additional water held 

 by absorption, (as a hard brick would,) if the gyp- 

 sum was very pure: or if adulterated with chalk, or 

 any calcareous earth, and the heat was strong enough, 

 the loss would be still more increased by part of the 

 carbonic acid being driven off.] 



ter from the Sound has been so much impregnated 

 with salt as to leave a white scale or scum of salt- 

 ed matter all over the earth, and on examination 

 I have found it quite salt to the taste, but without 

 its causing any apparent injury to the grass. Ap- 

 prehending injury from these annual overflowings 

 of the ground with salt water, I had the land the 

 first year enclosed with an embankment to pre- 

 vent inundation, and through the centre a three 

 foot ditch was cut with a flood gate at its mouth to 

 let ofTthe fresh water not needed, at low tide, and 

 lo keep out the salt water at high or storm tides. 

 This answered very well while it lasted; but the 

 first severe gale from the north-east swept away 

 my dam, and the tide-water took complete pos- 

 session of my meadow. To my disappointment 

 and gra'dfication, I discovered but slight injury to 

 t lie grass, and in a few days it had a more deep 

 blue and flourishing appearance than before. 



The land, before sowing the grass, had been 

 well broken up, and planted two years in corn — 

 but without success — it being too Avet and cold, 

 and subject to bugs, for that crop. On preparing 

 the land for the reception of the grass seed, it was 

 laid up into beds of six feet wide, having a small 

 water furrow between each, leading to the main 

 ditch; that the water either from tide or rain, may 

 be more readily conveyed off the ground. Equal 

 proportions of timothy and herds, with half' a 

 pound of red clover seed was sown to the acre. 

 The timothy has nearly disappeared, and no clo- 

 ver is to be seen, having been entirely overrun 

 by the red top, or herds grass. The seed was 

 sown the 1st of October. 



1 have the last year made a small trial of gama 

 grass on such land, and have reason to believe it 

 will succeed and produce an abundant crop of 

 good hay. I find it best to set it on ridges two 

 and a half feet between, and six inches distance 

 on the ridge. The gama I find, on the rotten 

 shell and black sandy loam, to far exceed in 

 rapidity of growth any grass in our part of" the 

 country. The seed should be sowed in the gard- 

 en, kept clear of grass and weeds the first year, 

 and transplanted the first of March in the mea- 

 dow. 



J. B. MARSH. 



Beaufort co. N. C. May, 1S35. 



For the Farmers' Register. 

 HERDS GRASS ON SALT MARSH. 



In answer to inquiries made by a farmer in your 

 12th No. on salt marsh and meadows, I can say 

 for the last five years I have had several acres of 

 such land well set with red top, or herds grass. 

 The ground is subject to repeated overflowings, 

 both spring and fallj and many times the tide-wa- 



"STUMP AND BARREL LEGISLATION — FEKCB 

 LAW. 



To the Fditor of the Farmers' Register. 



Fairfax County, May 7, 1835. 



I received your No. 11 yesterday, and am in- 

 debted to "Commentator 1 .' for a sound and hearty 

 laugh, which ended in my referring to your 9th 

 No. in which "Jeremiah" was backed by "X. Y. 

 Z." who showed by plain arithmetic, what "stump 

 and barrel" legislation cost upon 640 acres of land 

 per annum. Noav what more shall I do to save 

 my beloved Virginia? Shall I sell that which I 

 have and give it to the poor, and follow the "gen- 

 eral assembly] 1 ' Will it not suffice that I pay un- 

 der the command of this high and learned body 

 $220 per annum for confusing, confounding, and 

 commingling my rights with those who claim only 

 to depredate by the authority of the "general as- 

 sembly?" Did they never read that Moses, who 

 was a bond servant in Egypt? commanded the 



