242 



thus procured is much preferred to that of the overlying layer in 

 the bank. Its colour is a dirty green; that of the washed green- 

 sand is brighter; the granules are rather larger. 



That portion of the stratunn which is below the level of high 

 water at Mr. Tylee Conover's, gives the following : 



Composition. — In 100 parts: 



Greensahd, - - - 93-85 



Clay, .... 6-15 



Quartzose sand, - - none. 



10000 



The amount of potash in the whole marl, as obtained by direct 

 analysis, is 9.5 per cent. Though the marl throughout this 

 neighbourhood is generally rich in the greensand, the good effects 

 of this are sometimes impaired by the presence of decomposing 

 sulphuret of iron, which it derives especially from the overlying 

 ferruginous bed. 



At Judge Patterson's we have a convincing proof of the hurt- 

 ful influence of the copperas, in a marl otherwise excellent; his 

 being extremely rich in the fertilizing green grains. The bank 

 for a few feet up from the level of the water, is composed of the 

 marl stratum, abounding in the yellow astringent efflorescence. 

 Tried upon the land, it has been found injurious to the crops for 

 at least the first year or two, unless when applied in great 

 moderation. 



Where the poisonous impurity is abundant, it is not safe to 

 employ more than five loads of the marl upon an acre ; nor do I 

 see any good reason why five loads of a rich marl is not enough, 

 in nearly all cases, for a single dressing. 



The entire material of the beach beneath the bank, consists of 

 the dark greensand, from which nearly the whole of the astrin- 

 gent matter appears to be removed by the washing of the waves, 

 as the caving of the bank from time to time, brings down the 

 matter upon the beach, and within the dissolving action of the 

 Avater. 



This washed marl is pure, and may be used, as some experi- 

 ments made by Judge Patterson have fairly proved, in any pro- 

 portion, even at the rate of one or two hundred loads to the acre, 



