On the Vegetative Efficacy of Sulphur. 207 



and elsewhere, the excellent crops of clover plaistered ; 

 and was astonished at the prodigious effects of that 

 manure ; considering the small quantity used. But 

 although the mode in which that substance acts upon 

 vegetation, has remained, and will always be a mystery ; 

 the thoughts which M, Berard has expressed on the 

 composition of the gyps^ and his appropriate conclusions, 

 have not been useless to himself, or destitute of benefit 

 to the art of husbandry. 



"il/. Berard having seen in chemical books, that the 

 analysis of the gypsum produced much of the sulpJiuric 

 acid^ combined with lime and other calcareous earths ; 

 and, calculating its quantity, he saw that this manure 

 owed its wonderful efficacy to the sulykuric acid; 

 in a proper state of combination to promote vegetation. 

 This acid entering into the composition of animal and 

 vegetable matter employed as manure, was to him a 

 confirmation of the opinion he had adopted, of the pow- 

 er of this agent in the work of vegetation. 



"The fertility of the lands abounding in volcanic mat- 

 ter, as in the neighbourhood of Catanea in Sicily^ near 

 Naples &c. where the soil is evidently combined with 

 the ashes of the volcano, or of decomposed lava, afforded 

 a strong proof of the vegetative virtue of sulphur. 



"After these reflections, M. Berard caused brimstone 

 to be pounded and sifted ; and mixed it with ashes ^ to 

 render the sowing easy. Having spread this powder on 

 clover and lucerne^ on wheat, and natural grasSy he 

 waited the effect. It was surprising on the lucerne and 

 clover; but little perceptible on the wheat and natural 



