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Show FRANKLIN AMD GYPSU.'.I ' S(jrtv 200 years aco. Bon :-,nklin introduced the use '.')psum to the United handset the st.ige for jopnient of an entire ay. The fire panection. 'control, soil enrich--jiand a hundred other "pities and uses of gypsum 5 Suets and systems might Cebeen delayed or never itcometotliis country if for Benjamin Franklin. Wile American Commis-jvur Commis-jvur to France from 1776 to r'S. li.inklin observed and became interested in lie use of j; psum as a fertilizer. He also noted the use of plaster-of jviris (i;ypsiim) statuary stat-uary and the use of gypsum plaster as a hard, durable wall finish. When he returned home in PSS, Franklin brought ideas for using gyp-Sum gyp-Sum to the American public. pub-lic. Because of an anecdote about Franklins agricultural experiments with gypsum. United States Gypsum Complins Com-plins has used the name, BliN FRANKLIN, as a trademark for its Agricultural and Nova Scotia Landplaster products. According to the anecdote. Franklin applied gypsum in the sh;i(X- of the words, "Land Plaster L'sed Here"on a hillside hill-side of clover on his farm near Philadelphia. The sulfur in the gypsum improved the soil so much that the greener closer spelled out the words to be easily seen at a distance. dis-tance. Franklin is known as a printer, author, diplomat, philosopher and scientist, but few know him as agriculturalist; agricul-turalist; and fewer still know of his important contribution contribu-tion to the building industry and to agriculture. |