No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 826 



SOUTH CAROLINA PHOSPHATES. 



For the eastern farmer, the deposits of phosphates in South Caro- 

 lina are by far the most interesting- of any in the world, for they 

 have done much towards increasing the productive capacity of many 

 soils, and have made it possible to prolitably farm very considerable 

 areas that otherwise would have been abandoned. Their discovery 

 has also, in a measure, revolutionized the agricultural pursuits of 

 all parts of the world. The discovery of the deposits of phos- 

 phates in South Carolina is generally attributed to Prof. Francis S. 

 Holmes, and probably rightly so, for it certainly was in connec- 

 tion with his work that the true character of these deposits were dis- 

 closed. Some make claims of the discovery for Dr. N. A. Pratt, and 

 there is, no doubt but that his work contributed toward demon- 

 strating for the first time the true richness and value of the deposits. 

 However, the existence of the deposits were known even before 

 the date of Holmes' explorations, as is evidenced by the reference 

 made to them as early as 18U2 by Judge John Draton, but their prac- 

 tical value was not suspected. At that period marl or carbonate 

 of lime was the valuable product, and these deposits were referred 

 to by Mr. Kuflin, the State Geologist, as the "great Carolinian marl 

 beds." Again, the attention of the people of Charleston was called 

 to the fossil remains in that section, and to their similarity to the 

 Coprolite deposits of England by the writings of an English tourist 

 about 1820. 



As these deposits have plaj-ed so important a part in the agri- 

 culture of the Eastern States during the past thirty-five years, it 

 may be interesting and not out of place to give a short sketch 

 of the incidents relating to the discovery and the development of the 

 deposits. 



On the discovery of the deposits. Prof. Holmes, in "Phosphate 

 Rocks of South Carolina," says: 



"Some time in November, 1S37, in an old rice field about a mile 

 from the west bank of the Ashley river, in St. Andrew's parish, we 

 found a number of rolled or water-worn nodules of a rocky material 

 filled with the impression of marine shells. These nodules, or rocks, 

 were scattered over the surface of the land, and in some places had 

 been gathered into heaps, so that they could not materially inter- 

 fere with the cultivation of the field. As these rocks contained 

 little carbonate of lime (the material of all others then most eagerly 

 sought after), the nodules were thrown aside and considered useless 

 as a fertilizing substance. In a low part of an old field (Dec. 9, 

 1843), we attempted to bore with an augur below the surface to 

 ascertain the nature of the earth beneath, with the hope of finding 

 marl. On removing the soil above the rocks, they were seen in regu- 



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