Rensselaer Union, Volume 3, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 March 1871 — Pertaining to Plaster. [ARTICLE]

Pertaining to Plaster.

At a late meeting of the New York Farmer's Club, W. M. Tomlinson, of North Urbana, N. Y., asked the savants to reconcile the difference of opinion which prevails as to the proper way of sowing plaster With grain crops, some choosing to drill it in with the seed, while others prefer to scatter on the surface, after the seed is sown. “It is claimed that by putting it in with the seed it helps the crop from the outset, giving a start which keeps it ahead of surface-plastered crops. On the other hand, it is argued that, as the principal gain in the use of plaster is derived from the atmosphere, surface application best secures this, and hence it is to be preferred. What says practical science? Would the answer vary with different soils?” Mr. Curtis—as plaster is an absorbent of ammonia, it is better to sow it on the crop and let the rains following wash it down to the roots. This is a gain to the plant, for if first put into the ground it will absorb the ammonia in the soil which is already there, or it must wait for exposure to the surface to do its full duty, which exposure might not take place until the next crop. Plaster does but little good on wet ground, and its benefis-vary considerably one season with another. Sometime its effects are almost marvelous, and then again they cannot be seen. On dry loam or gravelly soil sown on clover, it often doubles the crop. In Glenville, N. Y., lands rejected fifty years ago as worthless, now are, by using clover and plaster, worth one hundred and one hundred and fifty dollars per acre. Sow plaster on the' manure heap and in the hen house.