666 Teansactioxs of the Ajieeican Institute. 



of special interest, would be a statement of tlie points in Avliicli the 

 Aveather of last 3'ear differed from that of present year during the 

 sugar season. I sliould be glad to obtain samples of the sugar sand." 

 Thus called upon by one of the leading men of science, Mr. Yan 

 Winkle and his neighbors will confer a favor by forwarding to the 

 club specimens of sand sugar and facts relating to its appearance or 

 disappearance, that Prof. Johnson may have the means of studying 

 the subject to the bottom. 



"When to sow Plaster. 

 Mr. A. C. Frost, Olivet, Mich. — May I add a word about my expe- 

 rience with plaster of paris as a fertilizer ? I have used it only three 

 years, and have acted upon the principle that it does not " furnish 

 food immediately to the plant,'- but that it " absorbs the gases of the 

 atmosphere in a wet state, and gives them out, to nourish the plant, 

 in a dry state." Accordingly I have always sown it before vegeta- 

 tion started ; twice on the snow the last of March. My soil is clay, 

 clay loam, and some portions considerably sandy. My fields are 

 noted here, on account of early and good growth of clover, and none 

 " hold their own " better in this respect during the late summer and 

 fall. I have a neighbor who practices the system of sowing his plas- 

 ter on the partially grown plant, but with results, as I observe, 

 decidedly in my favor. I think the early sown gets the benefit of 

 the frequent eai-ly rains to dissolve it, while the late sown, often fails 

 to confer its benefits, for the want of their dissolving effects. I sow 

 a half bushel to the acre each year. I am glad to see this subject 

 discussed by the club. I am far from being " set in my way " of 

 using this article. 



The Best Absokbent. 

 Mr. AV. E. Clarke, referring to the discussion on the use of ashes, 

 says : " As Mr, Ilolden seems to ask his question about the value of 

 dry earth as an absorbent of all foul gases in some astonishment and 

 doubt, I would say to him, that, fifteen or more years ago. Prof. Way, 

 the chemist of the British Agricultural Society, after extensive and 

 expensive experiments with plaster, charcoal and charred peat as an 

 absorbent and deodorizer, accidentally stumbled upon the fact tliat 

 common garden soil was as good, if not better, than either, and the 

 professor and everybody else were as much astonished at the discov- 

 ery as Mr, Holden seems to be, notwithstanding that the principle 

 was in constant operation all around them, and had been from the 



