68 
Annual Report of the 
not to sow plaster when it will produce so much more. Last year 
I think I got 500 per cent, on the money I invested in plaster. If 
we can increase fertility of our soil by plaster, we are making good 
headway. I will state that plaster does not have the same effect 
upon all soils. 
Mr. Tuttle, of Kenosha, asked Mr. Clark, what effect does it have 
on sandy soils? 
Mr. Clark. At the east it was more favorable than on any other 
soil. 
Mr. Porter, of Waukesha. I suppose the question was asked 
with reference to the reading of the paper our President has just 
concluded, and the questions are to he asked with reference to that. I 
wish to inquire in reference to the improvement of the soil, with 
reference to clover on exhausted soil. I wish to inquire whether 
it was intended to be understood that he would recommend clover 
previous to the improving of that soil by manure. My experience 
in reference to that has been fruitless; the attempt to improve 
land by clover without first improving the soil by summer fallow 
or manure, or something. I think I have sown for ten years about 
fifty barrels of plaster a year, and yet I have not been satisfied. 
President Stilson. I have always used manure in advance of 
plaster, and I shall flank the chinch-bugs by sowing clover on 
every acre of wheat. They do not like clover, I have seen it where 
I could tell at sight where the clover was. I have used manure 
in advance of either clover or plaster, and my experience is to con¬ 
fine the plaster almost entirely to clover. 
Mr. Clark, of Trempealeau. I wish to enquire about what amount 
of plaster it is profitable to sow to the acre ? 
Mr. Clark, of Green. I usually sow a bushel upon three acres, 
and I do it very quick. I generally have two or three teams in the 
field, if I am working four men, a couple of boys and myself. We 
take two double teams, one drives and has two barrels of plaster, one 
barrel in the hind end, and the other on the near side. I take the 
field so that the dust from the plaster will blow towards the center, 
and sow from the wagon about two miles and a half per hour, sow¬ 
ing towards the center. We had three teams last year, and went 
over seventy-five acres in a little less than half a day with six men. 
I generally sow from the wagon, it covers more ground and spreads 
further than if sowed from the ground. 
