INQUIRIES, FACTS, 



OBSERVATIONS AND CONJECTURES, 



ON 



PLAISTER OF PARIS 



Letter of Richard Peters^ and Ansxvers to Queries on 

 Plaister of Paris, by Mr, William West^ of Darby 

 Township, Delaware County, 



Sir, 



THE gpysum, or plaister of Paris, according to a 

 late analysis of its component parts, as declared in an 

 English work, is said to be compounded of a mineral 

 acid, and a calcareous earth ; the first an enemy, the 

 second friendly to vegetation. According as the one or 

 the other prevails, it is said to be good or bad. It is said 

 there, to operate on virgin soils with good effect, but 

 not on grounds which have been long under cultiva- 

 tion, and especially those that have been limed. The re- 

 sult of your experience is requested on this particular 

 point : my observations do not support this assertion. 

 Make any miscellaneous remarks, founded on your 

 experience, though they may not be immediately appli- 

 cable to the queries I take the liberty to send to you. 



