26 
the farmer’s manuao. 
the plaster was put had no advantage over the other; 
but merely what it derived from the plaster. 
“ In the year 1790, 1 dressed my land with plaster on 
which my wheat was sowed. 1 could noi perceive, at 
any time, that the wheat derived the least advantage 
from it. In September 1791, I sowed rye, and in April 
1792, I sowed clover. ^The rye appeared to receive 
but little advantage ; but the clover was fine, and was 
materially benefitted. In 1793, the crop of clover 
was very good. In 1795, 1 sowed the same piece 
with rye, and had a very good crop. Whether the 
plaster sown in 1791, benefitted the rye, or whether 
it was through the assistance of the clover that the 
crop was so much im|)roved, I am unable to say ; 
but I am persuaded that 1 never did before receive so 
great benefit to my wheat or rye, from the same quan- 
tity of clover, as my crop now received from some 
cause. In 1796, I sowed it with rye, and harvested in 
1797; but perceived no difference between this part 
of my field, and that on which no plaster had been 
sown. 
“ In September 1791, I dressed with plaster a field 
of clover which was sown in 1790; but no rain loll 
in a long lime. I received no benefit from it. In 
September 1791, 1 strewed plaster upon part of my 
wheat fallow, and j)loughed it in, but cannot say that 
my wheat received any benefit. In 1793, 1 planted 
the field with Indian-corn, and put a quantity of stable 
dung on that part of the field which had not been 
dressed with plaster, and left a small adjoining cor- 
ner on which 1 put nothing. That part dressed with 
plaster in 1791, was much better than that on which 
no manure had been put, and as good as that recently 
manured with stable dung. In 1794, I sowed the 
field with barley and clover. 1 could discover no 
benefit derived from it to the barley, but soon after 
the barley was taken oft’, the clover on that part of 
the field dressed with gypsum, appeared much belter 
than any part of the field which had been dressed with 
