Observations on Colonel Taylor^ s Letter, 67 



I have always found scattering plaister over the whole 

 of a corn field, better, than partial applications to hills. 

 Covered or not, I have not found much, if any differ- 

 ence. I have sowed it on the snow in February, and as 

 late as June, or July, with equal success. Season and 

 casual circumstances, no doubt, concurred. I should 

 think that covering would be the best for a corn field. 

 It brings it in contact with the roots of the plant, as 

 they spread. 



I wish Mr. T. would send us his results and mode 

 of draining. Every thing from him is valuable. 



You can easily inform him of our mode of manufac- 

 turing plaister. Nothing can be more perfect ; and you 

 know how to describe it. You may send this letter ; 

 or pick out of it any thing you please.* 



I am much afraid of Mr. Taylor's experiment on 

 his 200 acres half kept in corn — and half in ungrazed 

 clover — both plaistered. It will most assuredly fail on 

 the corn ground, though it will succeed on the other 

 part. No doubt the vegetable matter in the latter, will 

 constantly give activity and pabulum for the sulphuric 

 acid. But what will be in the corned part for it to work 

 on ? The more pulverization by constant tillage, the 

 less the plaister will operate ; because the vegetable 

 matter is perpetually dissipated. I have often mentioned 



* Colonel T. in aletter February 16th, 1810, to Dr. Mease, 

 explains his practice, which had been misunderstood. It is 

 a bold, and it is to be wished it may be a succesful experi- 

 ment. The ameliorating the soil, by the decay and accumulation 

 of vegetable matter from its own surface, has succeeded on a 

 smaller scale ; but in a longer time. 



