MARSH! 8. 





The red marsh, though varying somewhat in quality, \B the i .. ~t soil 

 in the region, and much of it compares favourably with the moat 

 celebrated alluvial soils of the. old and new worlds. The following 

 analysis of recently deposited marsh mud from Truro, will Berve to 



show the composition of this kind of soil : — 



Soluble in Water. 



■as common salt, 



Soluble in 

 Hydrochloric Acid. 



Moisture, 



( Organic matter, 



Chlorine, ~) 



Soda, j 



Potash, .... 



Sulphuric Acid, ) 



Lime, 'j-as gypsum, 



Alumina, 

 v Magnesia, 

 Carbonate of Lime, 

 ( )\idc of Iron, 

 Alumina, 

 Magnesia, 

 Soda and Potash, 

 Phosphoric Acid, 

 Silicious Sand (very fine), 



!•:> 

 ■095 

 ■115 

 ■013 



•073 

 •061 

 •005 

 004 

 3-60 

 2-7 I 

 1-20 

 •11 

 •8 

 •09 

 88-00 



So valuable is this soil, though nearly destitute of organic matter, 

 that it is found profitable to cart it upon the upland as a manure. Its 

 best varieties have now been cropped without manure for more than 

 two centuries, without becoming unproductive ; though there can be 

 no question that under this treatment a gradual diminution of its 

 fertility is perceptible. The weakest point of the marsh land, judging 

 from the above analysis, is its small proportion of phosphates. It is 

 probable, however, that this is in part compensated by the presence of 

 fish bones and other matters of organic origin, which do not appear 

 in an analysis. Yet I have no doubt that the cheapest manure for 

 failing marsh will be found to be bone dust or guano', which, by sup- 

 plying phosphates, will restore it nearly to its original condition. 

 There seems no reason to suppose that a soil with the fine mixture of 

 mineral ingredients present in the marsh mud, requires any artificial 

 supply of ammoniacal matters. Draining is well known to be essen- 

 tial to the fertility of the marshes, and many valuable tracts of this 

 land are now in an unproductive condition from its neglect. The 

 fertility of failing marsh may also be restored by admitting the 968 to 

 cover it with a new deposit. This remedy, however, involves the I 

 of several crops, as some years are require 1 to remove from the new 

 soil its saline matter. It is, h . observed, that in some situati 



the newly diked marsh prodt; tttaneously a OTOp.of OOUCb 



