106 0?i Leeched Ashes. 



produced five bushels per acre. — As near as I can 

 guess, I put 150 bushels of ashes to the acre. 



With sentiments of esteem, 



I remain your friend, h.c, 



Thomas Newbold.* 



Dr. James Mease. 



* Thankful for all communications, and wishing to collect 

 facts, we enternot into discussions about theories, further than 

 these facts require support or rectification. The component 

 parts of ashes, and those of the plaister of Paris, are entirely va-. 

 riant in their leading characters. But that there is no hostility 

 between the two substances, has been proved by long and re- 

 peated experience. Mr. Newbold may not have succeeded in 

 the application o! plaister, to ground on which ashes had been 

 strewed. Yet in general, success has attended this practice, 

 with most people, within our knowledge, invariably. It was 

 confidently asserted, and :or a long time believed, in Eng- 

 land, that plaister would not succeed on limed lands. And 

 so, until repeated exper'ence had proved the error of 

 both opinions^ was it believed, as to ashed fields. But there 

 is no doubt now that plaister operates well, both with lime 

 and ashes^ if there is any vegetable or animal matter in the 

 ground for the gypsum to operate upon ; — ior, what is the 

 exact cause oi its operation is yet a theory. 



