58 Phosphate Rocks of South Carolina, 
DISCOVERY OF THE. ROCKS IN SITU; AND 
OF THE: MARL BENEATH aw; 
From a prize report, made to the State Agricultural 
Society of South Carolina, November, 1844, of suc- 
cessful experiments in Marling cotton and corn lands, 
and for which their premium was awarded, we 
extract the following, which forms a part of the his- 
tory of Phosphate-rocks : 
“Tn a low part of an old field, (December oth, 
1843,) we attempted to bore with an auger below the 
surface to ascertain the nature of the earth beneath, 
and with the hope of finding Marl. We did not pene- 
trate two feet before the auger was thrown aside and 
the spade and pick resorted to. On removing the 
soil above the rocks, they were seen in a regular 
stratum about one foot thick imbedded in clay, and 
seemed to be identically the same as those found 
scattered on the surface of an adjoining field; all of 
them bearing the impressions of shells, and having 
similar cavities and holes filled with clay. Continuing 
our excavation, the yellow Marl was reached at about 
five feet from the surface. As the water sprung 
rapidly we had to abandon the work, but with the 
satisfaction of knowing that the Marl underlaid the 
stratum of rock and was to be had on our own farm, 
and in the midst of our cultivated fields, thereby 
enabling us to save carting one mile from the river 
bank. 
“On the 22d of February following, (1844,) another 
attempt was made to find the Marl, and it was dis- 
