ON THE USE OP GYPSUM. 289 



into the stomach in large quantities, the functions of 

 that organ. become evidently clogged, and that usual- 

 ly, in eating, a larger quantity of nutritive matter is 

 received than is beneficial. A certain quantity of 

 solid food, or food of a bulky nature, he found to be 

 essential to easy digestion and a proper separation 

 of the nutritive principle. This agrees with the 

 fact that horses or cattle require cut straw or hay 

 mixed with their grain, both to ensure mastication, 

 and to furnish the necessary bulk of solid matter in 

 the stomach. It is a common saying with farmers, 

 Hint an ox, when feeding on meal, must be furnished 

 with a lock of hay to make him a cud. They re- 

 quire more than this ; and the reason, from what has 

 been said above, is perfectly obvious. 



ON THE USE OP GYPSUM. 



There is no longer any doubt in our mind of the 

 advantage of applying gypsum in the spring to all 

 our meadow-lands which are beyond the influence 

 of the sea atmosphere, and which are habitually dry. 

 There are instances recorded, to be sure, of its not 

 producing perceptible benefit the first year; and 

 some instances where it did not seem to operate 

 even the second year, and yet ultimately developed 

 its fertilizing properties. 



We do not design now to discuss the question how 

 gypsum does operate, but to inquire and state, from 

 the facts within our reach, to what crops its applica- 

 tion is particularly beneficial ; on what soils its ef- 

 fects appear to be greatest ; how much should be 

 applied to the acre, and at what season it is best ap- 

 plied. We are satisfied, that if the value of gypsum 

 were better known, it would be much more exten- 

 sively used than it is ; and that, the more it is used, 

 the greater will be our agricultural surplus. 



Gypsum, according to Chaptal, consists of 

 L Z 



