OP MINERAL PHOSPHATE OF LIME. 511 



Among other observations made by these gentlemen, 

 was one that at Hurderville, in Morris County, New 

 Jersey, the mineral phosphate of lime occurred in con 

 siderable quantity, and sometimes in crystals of large 

 size. But the circumstance possessed comparatively 

 little interest, inasmuch as crystals larger and finer 

 were found abundantly in northern New York. But 

 after I had explained to my friends in Boston the utility 

 of this substance in agriculture, the economical value it 

 already possessed in England, and had urged on behalf 

 of scientific agriculture, in America as well as in England, 

 the importance of searching for new localities where it 

 might be obtained the fact above stated assumed a new 

 value. My friends revisited the locality of Hurderville, 

 and, since my return home, have informed me that they 

 have found in that single locality enough to supply the 

 English market for some years to come. The first 

 shipment of it has already been received and sold in 

 Liverpool. 



The unlearned reader may ask what use this substance 

 is put to in England. It is found, when reduced to 

 fine powder, and rendered soluble by means of sulphuric 

 acid, to promote very much the growth of our turnip 

 and other common crops. It is prepared and sold there 

 fore in large quantities thousands of tons every year 

 for this purpose ; and, under the name of super-phosphate 

 of lime, is in much demand among improving farmers in 

 many parts of the country. But it is as yet met with 

 only in few localities, and generally much less pure than 

 that which is likely to come from the United States, and, 

 I hope, from Canada. These new supplies, therefore, 

 will cheapen the article bring a better quality of this 

 manure into the market at a lower price will thus place 

 more fertilising means within the reach of the farmer 

 will keep down the rising price of guano by the benefi 

 cial competition will benefit practical agriculture, and 



