319 
State Convention—Renovation of Soils. 
on my land. That is my experience with plaster. I think on some 
kind of soils it is a benefit. My farm is a rich prarie soil, and been 
stocked for twenty-five years. I have all the stock I can keep on 
it. I have not raised much wheat. Some one wanted to knowhow 
to keep grain from lodging. In a rotation of crops, one gentleman 
stated he would plant corn, after the corn he would sow small grain. 
I found difficulty in sowing small-grain after corn; it always falls. 
I have had a great deal of difficulty because the grain lodges and 
kills the clover. If any gentleman who has had experience in sow¬ 
ing grain on land like mine, can tell me how to make it stand up, 
I would like to hear from him. 
President Stilson: I wish to call the attention of the conven¬ 
tion to one point in regard to the contradictory statements of the 
effects of plaster. This is the result of the different qualities of 
soil entirely. Mr. Boyce’s paper admitted that it is most beneficinl 
on a clayey subsoil. The class of lands around Lake Winnebago 
that produce the greatest crops of wheat, are the lands affected the 
most by plaster; also, the sandy lands. I have ascertained this by 
correspondence, and by personal intercourse with men living on 
prairie-land, like my friend at Beloit, and others. The beneficial 
effect of plaster on their lands—that black mold—is very slight, 
if at all. Upon sandy lands, or lands with a clay soil, the effect is 
marvelous indeed, so that this contradictory testimony, coming 
from different men, is entirely from their standpoint, and in rela¬ 
tion to the class of soil upon which they have tried it. 
Mr. h lint : I notice Mr. Allen stated he used salt. I think 
that explains the reason why his grain stood up better. In regard 
to plaster, I think he has sufficiently explained the different soils 
that will be benefited or not benefited. 
On motion, the convention adjourned until 2 o’clock. 
