300 On Plaster. 



requisite for us to avoid waste ; but now^ a saving of 

 this desirable but scarce article, is doubly incumbent 

 on us. 



• To a person incredulous as to the efficacy of plaster, 

 this singular instance of its inefficiency in the small 

 heap, would furnish a proof in support of his doubts. 

 Yet it only evinces the fallacy of drawing general con- 

 clusions from one experiment, or even a few facts. It 

 shows also the capriciousness, if the term be allowable, 

 of the gypsum. For I do not recollect ever before to 

 have experienced (and multitudes of farmers could at- 

 test the like fact) a failure in accelerating the putrefac- 

 tion, or decomposition, of vegetable matter, by means 

 of plaster. The dried leaves of forest trees, are, how- 

 ever, the most difficult to rot down ; unless first used 

 as litter in the stable, or cattle-yard. I am satisfied, 

 too, that (in conjunction with the plaster) the addition 

 of fermenting muck, in the large heap, hastened its 

 progress in putrefaction. It operated, like the stock- 

 yeast in a brewer's receiver, or gyle-ton, to forward 

 the fermentation of the whole *tnass. 



I am your obedient servant, 



Richard Peters* 

 Dr. James Mease. 



Secretary of the Pliilad. Jgric, Soc. 



