THE farmer’s manual. 
29 
any, and think it as good as the European. I used 
to |)ut as much as three bushels to the acre, I now 
do not apply more than two, and I am persuaded that 
two bushels answer as well as three. 1 have never 
used so good, and cheafi manure as the plaster, and 
I look upon my land as double in value by its disco* 
very.” 
1 have extracted this report of Mr. Holbrook’s at 
large, because it goes to prove with more nicety, and 
pre< ision, the real value, a^ well as the true, and best 
methods of using gypsum, of any series of experi- 
ments that I have seen. The fact, that plaster sown 
upon grass, or even pastiy.'C lands, gives an immediate 
profit, is of importance*, but that the same lands, 
when ploughed for tillage, two or three years after- 
ward, give an additional value to the crops, from the 
plaster thus sown, is doubly useful, both from its im- 
mediate, and subsequent effects: this is reaping the 
profits of the manure tvyice over, and is an undoubted 
evidence of its durability. Whoever reads this re- 
port of Mr. Holbrook’s, can never doubt the value 
and utility of gypsum, when properly applied as a 
manure. , 
Gypsum, — Soils. 
From the experiments made upon gypsum, as a 
manure, by Mr. Holbrook, of Derby, it clearly ap- 
pears, that it answers best upon both grain and gVass 
grounds, (if sown in the spring,) to be sown in this 
month. His reports to the New- Haven County Agri- 
cultural Society, have given full demonstration of this 
fact, as has been quoted. One of the objections to 
gypsum as a manure, has been, and continues to be, 
that it will not answer upon but few soils, and those 
of a sandy, or gravelly loam. This objection is now' 
found, from the best experience, not to be true. Gyp- 
sum answers well upon all grounds where clover will 
flourish, and this may be considered as a criterion, 
notwithstanding it answers best upon a sandy, gra- 
