APPLICATION OF MANURE. 229 



I should think the growing crop would natuxally appropriate to it- 

 self the alkalies, so as to prevent in a great measure the action and 

 reaction spoken of. 



If this theory be correct, then ought plaster to operate as benefi- 

 cially in the vicinity of the sea as elsewhere. The effect produced 

 by the lime of the plaster must necessarily be small ; a bushel or 

 two to the acre would not avail much, where forty is not enough. 



T adopt Liebig's theory of the action of plaster as being most 

 natural, which is, that it fixes the ammonia which is brought down 

 by rain. I suppose it to be in perfect accordance with the law of 

 chemical affinity, if liie sulphuric acid of the plaster has a greater 

 alfinity for ammonia than it has for lime. 



As a practical proof of the correctness of Liebig's theory, I would 

 state that I have, in experimenting with plaster, applied it to a field 

 of corn, except a spot of three rods square, by first rolling the seed 

 in plaster, and then applying it to the hill after it came up ; the re- 

 sult was, a difference so great in the growth and yield, as to con- 

 vince me, knowing the capabilities of the soil, that the non-plastered 

 portion of the corn was a great deal poorer than it would have been 

 had there been no piaster applied to any of the adjacent parts of the 

 ffeld ; consequently the non-plastered portion had been robbed by 

 the plaster of the surrounding corn, of some substance derived from 

 the atmosphere. Hence the usual mode of testing the effects of 

 )laster by comparing parts adjacent, is not fair ; the apparent effect 

 )eing greater than the real. I am sustained in this opinion by a very 

 intelligent farmer of my acquaintance, who came to the same con- 

 clusion for himself. 



May it not be true, that those farmers who do not use plaster are 

 a, little worse off than if their neighbors did not use it. I was told 

 )y a farmer who lives near Long Island Sound, that they esteem 

 )laster of very little use, unless it is sowed in the summer, irame- 

 iiately after a shower from the westward. 



Liebig says that ammonia is brought down by rainwater, and that 

 in the summer lime, when rains are less frequent, a greater portion 

 is brought down at one time. Is the air from the land better charged 

 with ammonia than that from the sea ? Does the sea-water absorb 



When once it is conceded that the soil of a farm can be made to 



Igrow rich by the use of manure, made from a great deal less than 



