On Plaister of Paris. 125 



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nard Taylor, Robert Braden, James Moore, and Abel 

 Jenners: — all respectable citizens, and practical farmers, 

 of Loudon county; and well acquainted with the general 

 state of agriculture therein. He had the like difficulties 

 in procuring information, with those constantly experi- 

 enced here. 



Mr. Noland informs me, that, about 14 years ago, the 

 late Col. Clapham cleared about 20 acres ofneiv land, and 

 ploughed in, on a part of it, half a bushel to the acre of 

 plaister.^ He planted ^o^r/cco on the part plaistered, sowed 

 also thereon, about half a bushel of plaister to the acre, 

 broadcast. There was no appearance of any benefit 

 from the plaister, either on the crop to which it was 

 then applied, or to any succeeding crops since. Mr. No- 

 land, with a view to ascertain the effects, if any, on new 

 or virgin soils, repeatedly took notice of this piece of 

 land ; and has never been able to discern any difference 

 between that, and the adjacent new land unpiaistered. 

 An old field of the same original quality, divided from 

 the new land only by a lane, and entirely worn out, was 

 taken up, for experiment, by Col. Clapham, and sowed 

 generally with plaister ; but stripes were sometimes left 



^ Great numbers of farmers now harrow in, and some 

 plough in the plaister, and give favourable accounts ol their 

 success. My opinion was originally against this practice j 

 but I always distrust my own judgment, when facts, well 

 attested, oppose it. I often now harrow in the plaister on a 

 corn field ; and find it highly beneficial. In general I still 

 use it as a top dressing : and never found advantage by 

 ploughing it in. 



R. P. 



