52 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER, 



AUGUST as, 1*33. 



From the Gewsi e Farmer. 

 TIME OF SOWING GYPSUM, OR PILASTER 

 OF PARIS. 



My attention to this subject is culled ;tt tins time, 

 by tin- circumstance of seeing several farmers last 

 week sow plaster on their grass lands. It is so 



different as to time from what is theco >n, and 



what I call the correct practice, that it may lie useful 

 to spare a few moments in the consideration ol the 

 subject. The first I saw, wnssowing it on a grass 

 field affording a lair bite to cattle, and of course a 

 large portion of it would never reach the ground, 

 where I conceive plaster ought to lie. But what 

 struck me as most remarkable in this case, was. 

 that the ; ; eld in whi «er was sawing was 



filled wiili cattle, horses and sheep, who would 

 necessarily eal a large portion of it, and which 

 would then be lost to the farmer; hut what was 

 still worse the eating of so much plaster must he 

 injurious to the animals that are obliged to feed 

 on it. On this subject there can be no mistake ; 

 and if this man had lost a cow, horse or a few- 

 sheep, at this time, it would have been attributed 

 to any but the right cause. Water dissolves a 

 small portion of plaster, the remainder hardens in- 

 to an indissoluble mass; and those who are expe- 

 rienced in rat killing take advantage of this cir- 

 cumstance and administer it for the destruction of 

 that animal. This man ought to have his salad 

 for dinner well sprinkled with plaster, and become 

 practically acquainted with both its taste and ef- 

 fects. 



On going a little farther, I saw another farmer 

 sowing plaster in a field well covered with clover, 

 more than half knee high. By far the largest 

 portion of it must therefore lodge on the expanded 



and broad leaves of the clover, and very liuie or 

 it would ever reach the ground. Plaster, as a ma- 

 nure, has been used about thirty yea's ; and it ar- 

 gues bad farming that the proper tine for sowing 

 it is not yet determined. I bold tlut the practice 

 of sowing it on the ground before the starling ol 

 vegetation in the spring, and upon the half grown 

 plant, cannot both be right. 1 apply plaster as L 

 do every other kind of manure ; 1 spread it on the 

 surface of the ground, expecting that the rains as 

 they descend will dissolve successive portions ol 

 it, and carry these portions into the earth, where 

 the roots of the plants which come in contact with 

 it will either absorb or be stimulated by it, to a 

 more vigorous growth. Besides, such portions ol 

 it as remain undissolved on the surface of the 

 ground have the peculiar property of attracting 

 moisture during the decomposition, of which the 

 plants in the vicinity can. avail themselves. I am 

 likewise anxious to reap this second advantage. 



It is Judge Buel's opinion that plaster to be use- 

 ful ought to be sprinkled on the ground very early 

 in the spring, before vegetation begins to revive — 

 the spring and the summer rains gradually dissolve 

 it, and it yields out its fructifying qualities as the 

 plant requires it during the season. It appears to 

 me also, from the slight knowledge I have of vegeta- 

 ble physiology, that sowing plaster on the, broad and 

 expanded leaves of the clover is interfering with its 

 growth and doing it a positive injury. The leaves 

 are denominated by botanists the lungs of plants — 

 they fulfil in the vegetable economy what the 

 lungs do in the animal — they are the organs ot 

 respiration, and air is as necessary to the first as 

 it is to the second. — They imbibe through their 

 upper surface carbonic acid, and give out oxygen 

 from their lower. To do this freely almost all | 



plants are Supplied with leaves which are very 

 large in proportion to the other parts ol' them, that 

 their respiration maj be easy and thus conduce to 

 their speedy evolution. — When the upper leaves 

 of the clover are then covered with line plaster, 

 which the first rain or dew converts into an adhe- 

 sive paste, it must naturally interfere with tie res- 

 piration of tin' plant, for three fourths of its upper 

 surface is covered with this coating. Besides it 

 must be to it a source of irritation, ami although a 

 small quantity may be absorbed into the plant in 

 this unnatural way, still it is an interference with 

 respiration, which retards its growth and under 

 any circumstances it does not require. Where. 

 too, is the use in sowing plaster in clover more 

 than half grown ? It can be of no service to a 

 subsequent crop, because a very small portion of 

 it only will reach the ground, and the clover hav- 

 ing already attained a large size, its own growth 

 , loes not require it. The truth of the matter is, 

 some farmers sow their plaster at the increase or 

 decrease of the moon, and do not reason any far- 

 ther oti the subject. These facts go to show bow 

 very ignorant we are of the profession we follow, 

 and how- necessary it is that we have some settled 

 rules to guide us ; every operation shows a want 

 of system, and thus tin' Success of farming is left 

 too much to chance. — Upon this important sub- 

 ject it is high time that all the light that can be 

 borrowed from the sciences of botany, geology, 

 chemistry, &c. should be drawn to it, and that 

 ihe darkness which now surrounds it be dispersed! 

 To do this effectually, the young mind must be 

 prepared for it by education. The reasoning pow- 

 ers once developed, the young farmer will have as 

 sure a guide to bring bis labors to a successful is- 



° , , ...-.aiming, 



„, comprehend the mysteries and unfold the laws 

 of nature. 



Aor.ieoLA. 



One quarter of a barrow lid of fine sand. These 

 are to be well chopped, and mixed together; then 

 lay the compost in an open shed, to dry a little he- 

 line using. About the second week in October, 

 put the bulbs in tiie above Soil, in p. it- proportion- 

 ed to the size or sort of the bulb. Fill all the pots 

 wiih soil, and shake it down, but do nol press it 

 wiih the hand before commencing to plant the 

 roots; then lay some clear sand on the soil in the 

 middle of the ppt, and placing ihe bulb on the 

 sand, gently press il down lill within half an inch 

 of ihe top. Care must be taken not to press with 

 sufficient violence to injure the bulb, yet it must 

 be left firm in the pot; for on tins 1 two things 

 much depends, with regard to their growing freely. 

 After they are potted, and named or numbered, 

 place them in a cucumber or melon frame, pre- 

 pared after the following manner: — Take out the 

 soil, and lay on the old bed about two inches thick 

 of tine ashes, level and make them pretty solid, 

 on ihe top of this lay a quantity of sifted ashes, in 

 which plunge the pots, making the ashes as firm 

 about tin; pots as possible. After this is finished, 

 cover the whole to the depth of eight or ten inches 

 with dry light soil. Always choose a dry day for 

 the purpose, and let every thing be dry that is 

 used about plunging ; or the bulbs will be liable to 

 puish. Give air at all times in fine mild weather, 

 bill allow no wet or frost to enter the covering 

 stii 1 : at nights, the lights must always he on and in 

 severe weather closely covered down with mats; 

 lint if the nights are mild the glasses may be tilted, 

 ti allow a little air. 



In January, take them out of the frame, wash 

 the pots, carry them to the stove for flowering ; 



ter, to assist them to flower strong. As the flow- 

 er stalks advance in growth, tie them to neat green 

 or white sticks; and if treated as above they will 

 flower beautifully. Crocuses planted four or five 

 in a pot, flower well when treated as above. 



From the Genesee Farmer. 

 DISEASE IN CALVES.. 



I.\ this paper of March 9, (see page 77,) we 

 published a communication from "A Subscriber," 

 giving an account of a disease by which he had 

 lost several calves. They were taken lame at first 

 in on| of the hind legs, and generally died in about 

 from 24 to 48 hours after. On opening them, the 

 hind quarter above the gambrel joint appeared 

 mortied and rotten. In some the intestines ap- 

 pearcl affected in the same way. The blood be- 



From the Lansingburgh Gazette. 

 Mr. Editor — I have sent for publication ii 

 your paper, if you think they merit it, two shor 

 extracts from a late number of the London Horn 

 cultural Register, the first is a plan of M. Saul, iff 

 LABELS FOR PLANTS. 

 Various plans are made use of, for fixing tte 

 names to different plants; but I think none wil 

 be found cheaper and more readily obtained, thai 

 the following, which may be made of waste piece 

 of tin-plate." The polish of the tin may be takei 

 off, bv applying a weak acid, as cream of tartar 

 or an apple cut into, and rubbed upon it. Ther 

 with a common pen and ink write the name ; ths 



ink will sink into the pores of the metal ; after- lore eath appeared thin and watery. The editor 

 wards run over the writing a little boiled linseedjot tW Wyoming (Pa.) Republican copies the arti- 

 oil which will prevent its being defaced. If the cleftf appends to it the following remarks, which 

 name is ever required to be taken out again, it may we fink, afford another proof of the benefit de- 

 speedilybe done, by plunging the label into a rivelrom a liberal feeding of salt : 

 stroii" acid which will clean off both the ink and "h observing and intelligent fanner informed 

 oil. The labels may be clipped to any pattern, us tjt a few years since be lost several calves by 

 and stick upon a stick, or hung upon 

 the pot. 



0J= The second article is F. F. Ashford s plan 

 of forcing Bulbs, to cause them to flower in the 

 winter. Yours, &c. Lansingburgh. 



FORCING BULBS. 

 Early in October take your bulbs, as Narcissus, 

 Tulips, Hyacinths, &c. having previously provid- 

 ed a quantity of mould, composed of 



Two barrowsful of well decomposed hot-bed j a ntire of brimstone and salt is an infallible 



dung, 



One harrowful of fresh loam, 



One do. of vegetable or leaf-mould, 



the side of Itbe ease to which the above article relates. He 

 wasjvised by a neighbor to mix pulverized brim- 

 stonjnd salt, ill equal quantities, and feed it to his 

 the winter, occasionally, perhaps 

 He adopted this mode of treatment 



alv 



one 



has 



loll 



during 

 week. 



andjpt his calves in a warm pen or shed, and 

 lost one since by disease. It is the opin- 

 our informant that the disease cannot be 

 cur« but experience has fully satisfied him, that 



pre' jye of it. Several of the farmers in this 

 neij! rhood have treated their calves in this way 

 witl ual success. 



