A Ferment to Manure an Acre of Land

[ A Ferment to Manure an Acre of Land ] Benjamin Marston

Contributors
Contributor Role
Compiler
Contributor Name
Benjamin Marston

Date: 1791/04/01

Publication Format
Manuscript

Type
Agriculture

Ingredients
plaster of Paris
mould

Places
London
Bristol
New Brunswick
Pennsylvania
England

Source: Winslow Papers
Institution: University of New Brunswick Archives and Special Collections | Source Origin: Winslow Papers | Reference: UNB MG H2 (original) and MIC-Loyalist FC LFR .W5E3P3 (microfilm)

Description

Letter from Benjamin Marston to Edward Winslow. 3 April 1791. Winslow Papers, vol. 7-85. Original correspondence is held by University of New Brunswick Archives & Special Collections.  This digital image is provided by agreement that it will not be reproduced or redistributed
without the express permission of UNB Archives & Special Collections.  For more information, contact archives@unb.ca.


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Transcription

London April 3. 1791

My dear Ned

The following information I think may be of

some worth to you in NB -- A farmer from 

somewhere about Bristol sometime last year gave

notice to all the farmers in G Brittain & Ireland that

he had discovered a Ferment (as he called it) a few bush

els of wch would most effectually manure an acre of 

Land & would produce a most exuberant Crop -- I was 

told by a Gentleman who saw them of some Oats the

produce of this new manure of a most extraordina

-ry size -- What this ferment was he did not explain

to the public at that time -- But I have since been

informed It is nothing more than the Lime of the 

Plaister of Paris reduced in it's unslaked State to a 

perfect powder by either Grinding or pounding & yn

strewed over the Land in the Broad Cast way about

6 bushells to ye Acre -- & I suppose must be then plough

-ed in -- Whether it would be best to mix this powder

with some fine mould before strewing it on the land

I don't know -- Experiment will readily decide that

  I had seen before I had this information an awo

from America of the beneficial effects of manuring

wth plaister of Paris pulverized as experienced in some

parts of Pensylvania -- It would produce 2 tons good

English hay paire from the most miserable Land

I think twill be worth making the experiment &

 

 I heartily wish it success -- For it would afford me a very

great satisfaction to be in any way instrumental to the im

provement of NB -- altho I am not so fortunate as to be able 

to come among you --