90 



half northwest of Andover ; the White Pond near Marksboro' ; a 

 pond at Stillwater; and some of the small ponds and marshy- 

 grounds in the neighbourhood of Hope. 



The marl likewise occurs in a marshy meadow to the northeast 

 of La Fayette, and again near Peter Merkel's, in the same range. 

 Considering the well-tried value of this material in Europe, its im- 

 portance to the agriculture of the districts which possess it, and 

 its abundance in the two upper counties of the State, it seems truly 

 strange that its application to the adjoining soils, should hitherto 

 have been almost entirely overlooked by the farmers. 



A material so easy of access, demanding no preparation to 

 suit it for the soil, and unquestionably so efficient when judiciously 

 applied, ought to be extensively used. Though much neglected 

 until recently, this useful substance is beginning to attract atten- 

 tion to its valuable properties as a manure. Ample evidence is 

 furnished of its fertilizing agency, by experience in Sussex county, 

 even if we had not the testimony of many districts of Europe in 

 its favour. It should be taken from the pond or low grounds 

 where it abounds, and drawn to some convenient place, to remain 

 in heaps, exposed to the air for several months. By this exposure 

 it becomes dry and pulverulent, and is made to mingle with the 

 soil more uniformly than when in its recent wet condition. 



Brown or Hematitic Iron Ore. — Next to the limestone itself, the 

 most useful mineral which belongs to this formation in New Jer- 

 sey, is the brown, or hematitic iron ore. Though much less exten- 

 sively diffused than in other parts of the same great valley, further 

 to the southwest, this ore, from its excellent properties, is to be 

 regarded as a valuable addition, recently discovered, to the 

 mineral resources of the State. 



The main deposit, moreover, is interesting, both in an economi- 

 cal and scientific light, on account of its great extent, and the 

 singular geological circumstances under which it occurs. 



As already mentioned, when describing the ranges of the altered 

 white limestone, this large accumulation of the ore occupies the 

 summit and slopes of a narrow ridge of the sparry rock extend- 

 ing parallel with the Pochuck Mountain, at a small distance from 

 its base. The situation of the mine is about two and a half miles 

 northeast of Hamburg, chiefly upon the western declivity of the 

 hill. Very little rock is visible in the immediate vicinity of the 



