On Plaister of Paris. 21 



It is not very agreeable to fully express my experi- 

 ence on agriculture, for fear the verity of it might be 

 called in question ; but a visit from Judge Peters at my 

 farm, would be agreeable, when conversation would 

 add something more. 



William West. 

 May 2Q>th, 1796. 



I have often since conversed with that most worthy and 

 much lamented agriculturist Mr. West, I never could prevail 

 on him to write more on this, or any other subject. He would 

 evade, or what was more in character, at once refuse all 

 my importunities. Mr. Sellers and Mr. West, having been 

 among the first with whom I communicated on the subject 

 of the plaister, and when they were unbelievers, I took occa- 

 sion to address my queries to them and was highly gratified 

 by their conviction- of its efficacy and the results of their ex- 

 perience. 



Mr. West did not begin the use of plaister, until many 

 years after its being known here ; and used by all who could 

 be prevailed on to believe in it. But he soon recovered his lost 

 time. His fortunate plan of top-dressings with a kind of crea- 

 tion of manure, made from materials on his own farm, and 

 such as are generally overlooked and neglected, succeeded 

 most wonderhilly as auxiliary to plaister. It seemed to ope- 

 rate in connexion with his composts, with all grasses on his 

 fields j and to set general rules at defiance. 



R. P. 



September 1810. 



