VOLUME 1. ^ 
L. B. LANGWORTHY, Associate Editor. 
Correaponding Editors: 
ELON COMSTOCK, (former Ed. Central N. Y. 
Farmer,) of Oneida County. 
T. C. PETERS, (Editor of the Wool Grower,) 
of Genesee (^/’ounty. 
Educational Department by L. WETHERELL. 
(ny For Terms, &c., see last page. JT 
PROGRESS AND IMPROVEMENT. 
AGEICUITURAL DISCUSSION. 
PLASTER —ITS ACTION AND BENEFITS. 
[Reported for the Rural New-Yorker.] 
At a meeting of the “ Central Farmers’ 
Club,” at their Agricultural Rooms, on tlte 
16th of February, 1850, the meeting was 
c:dled to order. 
Judge S. in the chair. 
Mr. C. presented some scions of the Bv^e- 
na Visia, a very superior high flavored, ten¬ 
der and juicy fall apple, for distribution 
among the member.s. It is a seedling ori¬ 
ginating at Stave Point, in this county. 
CoL G. presented some seeds of a variety 
of the cMcuriiVaccp, that weighed 168 pounds, 
grovm at the Mission Dolores, in California, 
last siunmer. He said it was a golden arti¬ 
cle, but might turn out like some other 
golden speculations and expectations —all 
squash. 
The Cluiirman mlorraed the meeting that 
several gentlemen were present, who wish¬ 
ed to become members of the Club. They 
were accordingly ballotted for, paid their ad¬ 
mission fees, and took their seats. 
The Chairman then announced the sub¬ 
ject set down for discussion this evening, viz: 
The action and henefits of Gypsum as a 
fertilizer. 
Dr. M. said, he never was able to com-1 
prehend the philosophy of the action of this 
mineral on vegetation. It was almost whol¬ 
ly insoluble in water; an ounce being thor¬ 
oughly agitated in a tumbler of water, on 
stibsiding was apparently as pure and taste¬ 
less as before. In fact it is a perfectly neu¬ 
tralized compound of lime and sulphuric 
acid, that no other acid effects; so gi-eat is 
the affinity between the two components. — 
Notliing but great heat decomposed it, and 
then it is not thoroughly divorced. He 
said, he did not know of any substance in 
the earth, or air, that would change it, or 
make it any thing but an inactive, inert sub¬ 
stance. He, was unacquainted with any 
theories on the subject; he merely gave his 
, off hand vietvs. 
Mr. Van V. said he was a simple farmer, 
and very simple perhaps at that—he did 
not pretend even to know what the constit¬ 
uent parts of Plaster were. He knew noth¬ 
ing of cliemical affinities or combination — 
he only knew that the use of it tvas bene¬ 
ficial to certain crops—that he had seen the 
most marked effects when used on clover— 
that he used it on corn, but did not tliink it 
as valuable on that crop as ashes. His 
opinion W!is, that it.s action is due to its ab¬ 
sorbing qualities, by attracting the nitre from 
the air during the night, and giving it out 
to the roots; and, as its effects are lost in a 
year or two after using, that it looses that 
qualification, or else is absorbed by the 
plants. 
Mr. McT). said he had no scientific knowl¬ 
edge on the subject—he always used the 
article, and was satisfied of its benefits.— 
His view of the manner of its action was, 
that it simply attracted vapor from the air 
at night, and relieved vegetation, by supply¬ 
ing moisture in dry weather; for he had fre¬ 
quently observed, on grass land, when it had 
ROCHESTER, N. Y.-THURSDAY, MARCH II, 1850. 
] NUMBER 11. 
MOORE’S RURAL KEW-YORKER, 
[published weekly. 
Office i^Burns’ Block, comer of Buffalo and State 
streets, (entrance on State,) Roche.ster. 
CONDUCTED BY D. D. T. MOORE. 
(LaJe Publisher and Associate Editor Gen. Farmer .) 
been dressed with plaster, that in the morning 
it had a very heavy dew on it—when land by 
the side of it, unsown, was entirely diy.— 
He had also observed that it was almost en¬ 
tirely useless on w'et, low lands, and on any 
land during veiy wet seasons. 
Col. G. remarked, that he had observed 
some similar effects and action of this pecu¬ 
liar substance. He said that, as far as his 
experience had gone, sowing it. broadcast on 
a field of corn, w’as precisely as beneficial 
as dropping it around the corn hills; and 
that it was his opinion, that the effect would 
be equally as good when put in a clam shell 
or other open vessel, and set by the side of 
the plant. 
He related the following fact:—Some 
years ago, I was on a visit to a friend in an 
eastern county, and in looking over his fai-m, 
he dreAV my attention to a large and very 
fine field of corn.- We got on the fence and 
examinfcd it. He asked me if I observed a 
difference in the height of a spot to wdiich 
he directed my attention, and asked me what 
I supposed Avas the cause of it I replied, 
that it had the appcai-ance of being the rais¬ 
ed bottom of an old coal pit So he invited 
me to walk with him, and observe the cause, 
when lo and behold! in the centre of what 
appeared to be a mound, by the increased 
height and strong growth of the com, there 
stood a bag, containing about a bushel and 
a half of plaster that his men, about four 
weeks before, had not used and had net*-- 
iected to bring away. The difference was 
so palpable, that there could be no mistake; 
and the owner of that field now lives in an 
adjoining county, and will endorse this fact 
Therefore, Mr. Chairman, I believe that it 
acts, by attracting some peculiar virtue from 
the air in all directions, and that the roots 
and leaves absorb and breath it. There is 
a great deal of nitre in the air and I believe 
that substance to be nitre. 
Dr. R. said there could hardly be two 
opinions on the subject of the benefits de¬ 
rived from its use. 
It was first introduced into Pennsylvania 
by the Germans. Its fertilizing effects were 
first discovered in Germany, by a laborer 
employed in making stucco work and im¬ 
ages, Avhile preparing the materials. On 
returning to his meals, he obseiwed the veg¬ 
etation exceedingly luxuriant, on the side 
he usually shook the dust off from his apron. 
This induced him to try it on other spots, 
which he found to operate in the same 
manner. 
A Mr. Barge, of Philadelphia, was the 
first one to use it in this country, a few years 
before the Revolutionary w'ar, and then as 
an experiment in a very small way. 
The earliest period it was brought before 
the public, was in 1'781; a few pints were 
distributed to the agricultural members of 
the Legislature of Pennsylvania, as a great cu¬ 
riosity. It w^as then brought from the old 
country. 
The Chairman asked Dr. R., if he had 
any information as to when plaster was first 
introduced from Nova Scotia, or in what 
year it was discovered and brought into use, 
from Onondaga county; and also desired the 
Doctor to give his view's of the modus op- 
erandi of its action. 
The Doctor said he was unable to answer 
the questions of the chair on those points; 
but it was clear in his mind that Lieiiig, 
Boussingault, and other great Eui'opean* 
chemi.sts, had solved the question, after long 
and patient investigation. He said that it 
must be evident that some action— some de¬ 
composition must take place, more than sim¬ 
ple attraction of moisture, or other substan¬ 
ces from the air, or the action of one dress¬ 
ing w'ould be perpetual. 
The immediate action of plaster he had 
no doubt, was its loss of sulphuric acid, and 
its reduction to siqiple lime, which again ab¬ 
sorbs carbon from the air, and was slowly 
dissolved by water, giving up its carbon to 
the plants and thus acting in two important 
capacities. Chemically, its first action is the 
attraction of ammonia, (alkaline air,) which 
is composed of one part nitrogen, (a gas, 
which composes four-fifths of the air we 
breathe,) and three parts hydrogen, (one of 
the constituents of water.) Ammonia is a 
substance universal in nature, and is known 
generally as hartshorn. It gives the pecu¬ 
liar odor to fermenting dung heaps, urine, drc. 
The ammonia seizes the sulphuric acid of 
the gypsum, and forms sulphate of ammo¬ 
nia, one of the most soluble salts and valu¬ 
able fertilizers; after which its action was 
the same as simple lime. The Doctor said 
there was some propriety in saying, in com¬ 
mon parlance, that it attracted nitre from 
the air, as ammonia w'as a nitrogenized sub¬ 
stance, and nitrogen was the base of nitre, 
or saltpetre, (nitrate of potash.) 
Mr. J. said that this was no doubt very 
fine talk, and very edifying; but he doubted 
the whole premises. He had used pla.ster 
for several years, and had never observed 
any good effects from it. Sometimes he had 
good crops, and sometimes poor ones; and 
it was his opinion, that if the season was not 
right, neither plaster nor saltpetre w'ould 
save them. For one, he had never seen any 
apparent effect at all from its u.so — he had 
abandoned it—lie trusted to manures. 
The Chai'-man:vsked Mr. J. ifl 1 not had 
bad crops sometimes, when he used the best 
manures—and whether he had ever used 
plaster on a part of a field, so as to b(* iffile, 
by comparison, to judge of its effects. 
[Mr. J.’s answer was so inaudible that the 
reporter was unable to catch its import.] 
Dr. M. observed, that he was satisfied, 
that a great deal of the plaster used in this 
region, (particularly that portion iliat came 
up the canal eight or ten years ago) was im¬ 
pure—that sufficient care was not taken by 
the manufactiu-ers, to seperate it from the 
substimees in which it was imbeded — that 
common lime stone, and clay slates, Avere 
ground with it, which had a tendency to in¬ 
jure its reputation, together with its improp¬ 
er application, were the causes that often 
produced a failure of its beneficial elLcts.— 
He was satisfied that it should only be ap¬ 
plied in dry weather, or at a period when a 
dry spell may be expected. 
The Chairman said the hour for adjourn¬ 
ing had arrived, and proceeded briefly to 
give his individual views on the subject,— 
He said, there could be no doubt but what 
it was a valuable fertilizer—he had realized 
the most important benefits from its use.— 
It was a most effective absorbent of some 
valuable properties from the air, indepen¬ 
dent of taxing the soil, and was almost the 
only mineral matter that increa-sed the value 
of compost manure heaps—that it possessed 
the property of absorbing the nitrogen of 
the ah', which united with the potash or soda 
of the soil; or by some chemical affinity pro¬ 
duced a nitre, for the use of the roots, and 
perhaps a gas, that was absorbed by the 
leaves. These had been his views of its ac¬ 
tion ; probably the theory of Dr. R. was the 
true one; it had the sanction of some of the 
most profound investigatoi-s of the age. 
The Chairman, after consultino; the cura- 
tors, announced the subject for the next 
evening’s discussion to be, the Inquiry as'to 
the native country of Indian Corn, and 
lohether it was indigenous to America. 
The Club then adjourned, to meet on the 
23d of February", when an address will be 
delivered by this evening’s Chairman on the 
subject of the benefits that may be derived 
from the formation of Farmers’ Clubs. 
SEYMOUR’S GRAIN DRILL. 
This macliine is the invention of a prac¬ 
tical man and good mechanic, and the re¬ 
sult of several years trial and experience.— 
It is well and thoroughly made — simple in 
its construction and certain in its operation. 
It possesses one advantage that we think 
very important in a seed sower— the readi¬ 
ness with which the person attending it can 
see whether any of the droppei'S (or teeth) 
fail to deliver the gi-ain regularly, as they 
are all in plain sight, and under the eye of 
the driver. From its peculiar construction, 
a failure to deliver the seed constantly, is a 
fault not likely to occur. The drill teeth arc 
easilly controlled by the operator; they can 
be raised, and the dropping of seed stopped, 
WIRE FENCES-AGAIN. 
IVieir cost, compared with others—Opiniori of their 
ih-rahilittf—'/’heir aiharitages—Objections to thmn j 
— 27if best /chid—livjmiusiou and contractieii of 
the wires — 'J'he screen fence. 
There has been a good deal written and 
said on the subject of wire fences, within a 
year or two past, and that, too, without com-1 
ing to any very explicit conclusion as to the j 
best methods of construction, or as to their 
endurance or ability to answer the desired 
end. Their advantages are said to be — a 
neat, lasting and cheap substitute for rail 
or board fences, at a cost of from one to two 
dollars per rod. 
If they are sufficiently strong to turn and 
secure cattle, and the wires painted, or oxi¬ 
dized, to prevent rusting, their durability 
wholly d(?pends upon the life of the posts. 
A good oak post, or even a thrifty chestnut, 
ten inches square, Avell charred, will last an 
average of twenty yeai-s; and a red cedar, 
they say, forever, as it has been tried many 
times and often! Those who intend to try 
the e.xperiment of making the wire fence, 
will see at once what their choice ought to , 
be in selecting posts. j 
To make the best ])lain farm board fence | 
in the world, place cedar posts eight feet a | 
ptirt, and four and a half feet high —with 
four boards respectively 12, 8, 6, 0 inches 
wide, with spaces 4, 6, 8 inches—a six inch 
cap and batten over die joints. Tliis will j 
cost, per rod, about as follows: j 
(i t feet of boards at $10 per .M. \ 
2 cedar posts,. 2.') j 
Digging post holes and setting,. }J i 
Nails,. 4 
•Making, \vc*H and thoroughly,. C.') i 
$1,2(5 I 
Thorefon*, while lumber and labor are at 
present prices, there is no sa\ ing in making- 
wire fence, so far as expense is concerned; 
tind we venture a prophecy, that twenty 
years wear will tell the story in favor of I 
board fences. That is onr opinion; and tis 
we have no experience in wire fence mak¬ 
ing, and only reason from analog}- and the 
best light ive have, let it go for what it may 
seem to be worth. 
Wire fences have the advantage of ctitclr- 
ing but little wind, imd avoiding the depos¬ 
iting of snoAV in banks, on either side, by 
drifting winds. They ai-e a very pretty ar¬ 
rangement for a garden, as they produce no 
shade; and the north, and even east and 
at once, with one lever—or one may be 
raised at a time. . / 
Tliis Drill sows or jilants wheat, oats, bar- ( 
ley, corn, beans, peas, &c.—and is also ca¬ 
pable of sowing fine manures with grain, 
such as plaster, lime and ashes. It can be 
changed, in a few minutes, from a drill to a . 
broad-cast sower — an additional adv antage ( 
and recommendation. For further partic- \ 
ulars relative to this and other machines : 
invented by Mr. Seymour, see advertise- \ 
ment in this paper. J 
We understand the proprietor intends ^ 
hereafter to manufacture his machines in < 
this city. There are two sizes of his Grain ' 
Drill—one having V, and the other 9 teeth. I 
west side.s, might be used for trellising gi'apes s 
and fiowering shrubs. s 
Our correspondent, S. S., objects to the ^ 
plan of H. H. L., publisned with an engrav- ” 
I ing in our seventh number, as being too much i 
[like Nebuchadnezzar’siraage —composed of ; 
I too many different materials. He objects to ; 
using boards along with wires—to the board ) 
at the bottom, and at the top. J'his ar- \ 
rangement may not be important for field , 
fence, simply to turn cattle and horses; but ^ 
for street fence, or yards or lanes, where 
pigs and geese, and “such small deer” are 
at large, the bottom board is indispensable; \ 
and to avoid the unlinished, naked and un- 
mechanical appearance of the single wire at > 
the top, tlie top board and cap are equally ] 
important— g-iving tin* structure a much bet¬ 
ter app(‘arance, strenghening, the fence, and ' 
offering a obstruction to animals be- ^ 
fore tliey reach it. Taking it altogether we ' 
do not see Ikyw it can be improved, and in 
[ our opinion it is the fence for a tvire one. 
j The nearness of the posts, being only S ( 
I feet apart., (for the use of 10 feet hoards,) ; 
! otters great security in the strength of the ■ 
wires, when compared with those set from ^ 
j 10 to 50 feet, all of which liave been used. 
j The straining of the wire does not require < 
to be half as great., to sustain the proper i 
tension when the posts occur often, as whei? 
j they are at long distances. 
I There is one point, about wliich we an- s 
I ticipate sonffl^difficult}', which we have not \ 
I heard mentioned. Iron expands from 32 > 
: (the freezing point,) to 90, half the way to ; 
I boiling, (a heat not uncommon iit the sun,) ) 
—about one 1000th part of its length, or ; 
about (jne-eighth of an inch to tin; rod, 
making im expansion of 2-^ inches in twenty 
rods of fence, if put up at the freezing point. 
and an equal contraction if put up at ninet}', • 
which, if the extreme pi^sts did not give. I 
would bn'ak the wire, unless ther»^ was ; 
slack enough to compensate for the shrink- < 
age. These are philosophical facts, but may \ 
not prove detrimental in use. One ounce 
of practical knowledge is always wortli a $ 
ton of theory. • 
Our correspondent's suggestion in regard | 
to a wire-wove screen fence is ingenious; ■ 
and, if the filling of the cross wires could be > 
secured from slipping and disturbing the ^ 
symmetry of web, it would bo a neat and > 
