66 Phosphate Rocks of South Carolina, 
gentleman of Saint Andrew’s* had a large quantity 
of the rocks pounded at considerable expense, in- 
tending to use it as a fertilizer, but Mr. Ruffin, and 
the party who accompanied him on the visit, dis- 
suaded the old gentleman from using it by saying it 
would produce no beneficial effect. This was in the 
year 1843. 
After selecting the specimens intended for analysis, 
the Doctor remarked “that the small specimen which 
he possessed was obtained from the neighborhood of 
Charleston,” but did not name the locality, or from 
whom he had received it, nor did we ask him. He 
also remarked “it contains a much larger quantity 
of Phosphate of Lime than is known from published 
accounts of the Ashley rocks, by Shepard or Tuomey, 
and that it was valuable as a fertilizer if all the Ash- 
ley rocks were of the same quality ; though if found 
in quantity, as we had represented, he was fearful the 
average percentage of Phosphate of Lime would not 
be so great, as our specimens indicated a greater 
amount of silex iron and lime than was found in that 
in his possession.” 
The day after this interview Dr. Pratt informed 
me that the analysis, though not completed, indicated 
to his surprise even greater results than he had 
obtained from /zs specimen, and that it was reduced 
to a certainty that the Ashley Ferry rocks were un- 
doubtedly much richer in Phosphate of Lime. When 
the analysis was completed it was ascertained to con- 
* The late Jno. S. Brisbane, Esq. 
