76 On Gypswn. 



both as to this experiment, and also as to the efficacy of 

 plaister. The trial corn field produced double its cus- 

 tomary crop. Near 300 acres in corn on my farm, not 

 twenty of which were manured, almost averaged thirty 

 bushels. A double crop also. But 1 shall record and 

 transmit to you the result of a more complete trial. In 

 the mean time, Mr. Roberts's experiment* so accurately 

 accords with my observations and hopes, that it affords 

 me much encouragement. 



The progress you are making in the improvement of 

 sheep, is at present the first object of public interest, but 

 it will not be speedily, if at all, that the country below 

 the mountains south of the Susquehannah will rival you. 

 We have here neither buyers nor manufacturers of 

 wool, (the household excepted) of any moment. Its 

 usual price is about 17 cents, and w^e cannot grow it in 

 our dry climate on exhausted lands, at less than double 

 the price you can afford it at. These considerations shew 

 you that success does not yet appear to us through the 

 magnifying end of the telescope. 



The perusal of Judge Peters's letter has afforded me 

 great pleasure. 



Of sundry suggestions in his letter I shall certainly 

 avail myself. As to a few, my doubts remain. The 

 maxim *' the more cattle, the more grass" may be 

 thus conjugated. " Cattle produce grass — grass produ- 

 ces cattle— and cattle will subsist men ; and so the sys- 



* A mode pursued by Job Roberts, on a particular worn 

 out field, had been stated to Mr. Taylor. — See Robert's Penn- 

 sylvania Farmer, page 208. 



J. M. 



