1851. 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 



139 



OBSERVATIONS ON THE EFFECTS OF GYPSUM, 



Eds. Gen. Farmer: — In looking over the Farmer 

 for 1850, page 34, I found an article headed "Gyp- 

 sum — its Elements and Value," in which the author 

 has given answers to three inquiries, most of which 

 accords with my opinion ; but there is one fact I have 

 observed that has escaped his notice, viz : that there 

 is a certain principle in gypsum which has the power 

 of retaining moisture of rain and dew. I have dis- 

 covered that when walking through a field of clover 

 where gypsum had been sown in the spring, when 

 the clover is ancle high, the feet would be moistened 

 with dew, when an adjoining field of clover, not 

 plastered, was perfectly dry. This constrains me to 

 differ in opinion from the learned author, where he 

 says, "Gypsum does not, in the opinion of the writer, 

 contribute to the growth of plants from the fertilizers 

 which it draws directly from the air." In my opin- 

 ion, this property of retaining moisture is the main 

 cause of the astonishing effect gypsum has on plants. 

 How it does this I will leave to science to determine. 

 I have seen, on a dry, sunny day, when the dew on 

 unplastered clover has been evaporated for hours, 

 where gypsum has been sown the dew on the leaves 

 collected in globular balls ; and hence a thought 

 struck me that gypsum was an agent in forming 

 those balls of water, and in doing so it might have 

 formed a thin transparent shell not perceptibly to the 

 naked eye, to preserve them from speedy evaporation 

 by solar heat ; for if one of these balls is pressed by 

 the finger, it will appear to burst and the water to 

 run out like the contents of an egg when the shell is 

 broken, and sometimes it will collect again Into sev- 

 eral smaller ones. This I will also leave to science 

 to investigate. 



Another thing I have observed, which I think is 

 in support of my position — that when I have sown 

 gypsum in dry weather, and there has not been any 

 rain for some time after, and consequently but little 

 dew, I have never perceived any benefit from it ; 

 therefore I would recommend it to be sown early in the 

 spring, as soon as vegetati®n begins to start, so that 

 it may take the advantage of early rains. I have al- 

 ways found this way to succeed best. Green Farmer. 



VIRGINIA LANDS. 



Eds. Gen. Farmer : — I perceive an article in the 

 Genesee Farmer in relation to Virginia lands. Being 

 a resident there, and land holder, a few remarks in 

 relation to the subject, might be acceptable. 1st, As 

 to health, from the head of Tide-water to the Blue 

 Ridge, no country can be more salubrious. The 

 lands are moderately rolling. One-third may be nat- 

 ural forest oak timber, principally, one-third "old 

 field pines," so called — that is lands that have been 

 worked a few years and turned put ; the balance in 

 cultivation, the second growth, is invariably a luxu- 

 riant growth of pines. The manner of cultivation is, 

 first, two crops of tobacco, then wheat and corn, alter- 

 nately, for four or five years, then a crop or two of 

 oats — then it is called " worn out." One horse, or 

 mule, is the usual team for plowing. The soil is 

 usually of a sandy nature for a few inches : subsoil, 

 clay, sometimes quite to the surface. No lands are 

 more easily improved, or retain manure longer, or 

 with as good an effect. Clover grows luxuriantly, 

 with a little help, and when once seeded, no after- 

 culture will eradicate it. Wheat is generally sure, 

 and the quality very superior, as is well known ; the 



same of corn. For fruit of all kinds, grapes, peaches, 

 apples, &c., particularly, it can't be beat. Never- 

 failing springs, on most plantations, are plenty. 



I am anxious for a company of northern farmers, 

 say 100 to 150, to purchase a tract of land, of 20 to 

 40,000 acres, (some well improved and with excellent 

 buildings,) within 20 to 30 miles of the principal cities 

 and tide-water, on and adjacent to railroad and water 

 navigation, 30 hours distance from New York by land, 

 and 48 by water. The average price may be $4 per 

 acre. For health, nearness to market, and genial cli- 

 mate, it certainly offers greater inducements, in my 

 opinion, than any other portion of tlie United States. 



The following may be about the prices of produce : 

 Wheat, prime, Si. 05 to $1.10 ; corn 70 to 75 cts.; 

 rye, 65 to 70 cts.; buckwheat, $1.00 to $1.25 ; hay, 

 $20 to $25 ; oats, 50 to 65 cts.; butter, 25 cts., al- 

 ways ; cheese, none made ; cotton, 12 cts., little rais- 

 ed, but might be ; potatoes, $1.00 ; Irish and sweet 

 potatoes, $1.00 to $1,50; beans, $1.30, fee, fcc. 

 It is generally supposed that it is disgraceful for a 

 white man to labor ; nothing is further from the 

 truth. \\.ny that wish to inquire more particularly,* 

 may write to me at Proctor's Creek, Chesterfield Co., 

 Va. — post-paid. Samuel Clare, Jr. 



FRENCH AND SPANISH MERINO SHEEP. 



tl\[ 



Messrs. Editors : — Having been somewhat exten- 

 sivel}?- engaged for the last sixteen years in the grow- 

 ing of wool, and the rearing of fine sheep, I propose, 

 very briefly, to offer to the public, through your highly 

 esteemed journal, my views on the comparative mer- 

 its between the French and Spanish Merino sheep. 

 When the French sheep were first imported, some 

 four years since, I visited the flock, and re-visited it, 

 and was in doubt whether they were an improvement 

 or not. I hesitated about purchasing, but finally 

 concluded to take a few and give them a trial. I was 

 pleased with the result. I found that my Spanish 

 sheep were improved, both in quality and quantity, 

 by a cross from the French bucks. I now own a few 

 of each importation made. I have recently purchased 

 twenty-two ewes, being all but two in the hands of 

 the importer. In addition to these, I have purchased 

 thirteen bucks which were imported during the past 

 winter, a part of which are for sale. The last ten 

 ewes cost me $2250, or $225 eac-h. For ease in 

 taking on flesh, constitution of the animal, and weight 

 of fleece, these sheep have no superiors, and I can 

 cheerfully recommend them as the best among the 

 races of fine wooled sheep. At least this is my opin- 

 ion after a trial of three or four years. Merril 

 Bingham. — Cornivall, Vt., May, 1851. 



Messrs. Editors ; — Three years ago a piece of land (six 

 acres) was planted with corn, the seed rolled in plaster (gyp- 

 sum) and a little put on the hill, previous to hoeing, and 

 without manure ; the next spring it was plowed and seeded 

 with clover. The next season, for several weeks previous 

 to mowing, it could plainly be discerned, by the freshness 

 and rankness of the clover, precisely tlie spot from whence 

 came the hill of corn. In going through, we could plainly 

 discover where a hill of corn was missing, in consequence of 

 the absence of the plaster. 



1 wish to inquire whether the plaster acts on the depth of 

 the soil, that the plowing of six inches in depth should not 

 remove the hill, and what is the nutriment it extracts ? The 

 top soil is gravelly loam. I should like to hear from S. W., 

 of Waterloo, or from some other coirespondant. Frederick 

 WihLiAUS.—Dewiiiville, N. Y., April, 1851. 



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