966 ANNUAL RE 
marie; it may be distinguished by 
various colours, but these are no 
otherwise material, than as indica- 
tive of iron. Itis by nature a fossil 
substance, usually composed of sand, 
clay, and calcareous earth; it falls 
in pure water, as well as by expo- 
sition to the atmosphere. The pro- 
perty that renders this manure par- 
ticularly valuable, is the calcareous 
earth it contains; and there is 
great reason to believe that the cal- 
careous earth is the part taken up 
by vegetables. The commou way 
of collecting marie is by digging: it 
may, however, be sometimes dredg- 
ed up from the bottoms of rivers, 
particularly the Shannon, In search- 
ing for marle, therefore, these 
places ought not to be overlooked, 
but should be bored as well as other 
parts of a farm. ‘This manure re- 
quires no preparation, and, as to 
the state in which it is applicd, what- 
ever benefit may result from expo- 
sition to the atmosphere, it nast be 
attained after spreading ; if, how- 
ever, it be obtained from the bottom: 
ot lakes or rivers, the heaps sheuld 
be left for six or twelye months. 
The application requires more ex- 
tensive notice: the bulk of this 
manure renders the carriage so 
expensive, that every means should 
be used for lessening it. As marle 
should be very long exposed for the 
atmosphere te melt it down, and as 
the roots of the grass combine it 
with the surface of sweard land, 
whether appli¢d to this or to ara- 
ble, it should be applied in such a 
pianner as (uo remain as long as pos- 
sible undisturbed. The most expe- 
rienced farmers are apprehensive of 
turning marle in too deep with the 
plough. This manure is usually 
applied on so large a scale as to 
preclude cheice in the season; it 
3 
GISTER, 1806. 
.-must be done when the teams have. 
most leisure ; it should, however, 
be suspended whenever the ground 
is much cut by the carting. The 
most advantageous quantity, though 
an object of extreme importance, 
has not been satisfactorily ascer- 
tained: it is better, however, to 
lay on too little than too much, as_ 
the application may be repeated in 
the former case; and the latter is 
sometimes produgtive of deteriora- 
tion of the soil, and must be regue- 
lated in some manner according to 
what soil it be applied. On loose 
and sandy soils, the Norfolk farmers 
frequently apply from one hundred 
to one hundred and fifty cubical 
yards to an acre, and on soils of 
more firmness eighty, and even sixty 
yards have been found sufficient. If 
turnips produce deformed strings of 
root, or if the rush-rooted grasses 
prevail, the experienced farmer will 
pronounce the land to want marling ; 
and upon wet, loose Joams, which 
are found when manured with dung 
io be more productive of straw than 
corn, marle has generally been found 
au effectual remedy. 
CHALK differs so very little from 
marle, as to make it necessary to 
point out only the variations: it 
naturally possesses more calcareous 
carth, and is comparatively harder, 
and consequently its properties are 
not very different ; it is usually co/- 
lected by digging from pits, which, 
for the convenience of application 
should be opened at small distances ; 
and it may be applied in all states, 
and at all seasons. ‘ 
reguired is smaller than that of 
marle, and the soils abounding with 
wild sorrel, have been found to be’ 
highly improved by it; aud, indeed, 
it is used successfully on all soils, 
on whieh marle has becn found te 
answer ; 
The quantity ° 
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