82 BULLETIN OF THE NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



nage each year. No trouble with water is experienced. 

 The employment of skilled miners with modern and improved 

 implements would effect great economy in the cost of pro- 

 ducing the gypsum. Even the use of a light track of hoop 

 iron and small cars would be of advantage in transportation. 

 The introduction of steam drills, the drilling of larger holes, 

 and the use of larger blasts would increase the output greatly 

 with the same force of men. It is well known that a con- 

 siderable amount of the plaster goes into the composition of 

 the high grade fertilizers. With the increase of the adamant 

 wall plaster business there will probably be an increase 

 over present production of the gypsum business of New 

 York state but as this business is hardly well started yet 

 the effect may not be noted for some time. 



THE USES OF GYPSUM 



(i) On land. 



The advantage claimed is the increase it gives to many 

 crops to which it is applied, the ease with which it is applied 

 and the small amount which is required, also the cheapness 

 of the article. The manner of action is said to be as follows; 

 the plaster acting as an indirect fertilizer: Ammonia is an 

 alkali capable of decomposing plaster and forming with the 

 acid the sulphate of ammonia. Ammonia is an important 

 element of plant food, is produced in the decomposition of 

 organic bodies, and being a gas lighter than air it is difficult 

 to hold. The sulphate of ammonia is not volatile and is 

 kept in the soil ready for use. The lime is supposed to 

 combine with the carbonic acid which is in the air and is 

 also formed by decomposition, forming carbonate of lime. 

 The ammonia is supposed to be washed out of the air by 

 rain and to come into contact with the plaster. The potash 

 of the surface soils largely formed in dry seasons is also 

 supposed to combine with the sulphuric acid in the gypsum 

 and form sulphate of potash. Plaster may be used on 

 land for crops of wheat, oats, rye, buckwheat, corn, potatoes 



