

THE FARMER AT HOME. 265 



would like to see Agricultural Societies encourage the growth of the 

 sugar maple. Let them give premiums for its culture. 



MARBLE. This is the popular name of any species of calcareous 

 stone or mineral, of a compact texture, and of a beautiful appearance, 

 and susceptible of a good polish. The varieties are numerous and 

 greatly diversified in color, as well as in the fineness of their structure. 

 Some of it is white, some of it black, and some variegated with every 

 possible shade and delicate blending and combining of different 

 hues. Marble is limestone, or a stone which may be calcined to lime, 

 a carbonate of lime ; but what is usually denominated limestone is of 

 a coarse and inferior quality. Marble of various degrees of beauty is 

 abundant and found in different parts of the country. 



MARE. Some difference of opinion exists among farmers as to 

 the comparative value of mares or geldings for labor ; but it is thought 

 when everything is taken into consideration, the former will be 

 deemed the most profitable. Mares are as lasting and durable as 

 geldings, do not usually cost as much, and should any accident render 

 them permanently lame, or unfit for labor, or even if remaining sound, 

 they can be used for breeding. There is no necessity for the mare 

 lying idle when with foal. Moderate labor, even to the period of 

 foaling, will be better for her and for the foal, as she will be in more 

 vigorous health than if idle. It is a singular fact, that the Arabs, 

 noted for the beauty and value of their horses, use none but mares. 

 These they find more hardy, capable of longer endurance over the 

 deserts, than geldings, and prize and retain them accordingly. Mr. 

 Youatt lays down as a rule, and it is one we are confident every 

 breeder of horses who understands his business will concede is correct, 

 " that the value of a foal depends a great deal more on the dam than 

 the sire." Farmers, however, too often forget this fact, and in raising 

 horses, go on the supposition that every mare is a mare, and every colt 

 a colt, whether they are worth raising or not. A little attention to 

 this point would benefit the breeder by adding to his profits, and 

 greatly improve the appearance and actual value of farm horses. In 

 those parts of the country where grass, and hay, and grain, are plenty, 

 and are so far removed from a market, as to make it necessary to con- 

 sume them on the premises, the breeding of horses is a profitable de- 

 partment of rural economy. 



MARL. Any earthy substance in which the proportion of calca- 

 reous matter exceeds that of the sand or clay, is styled in the popular 

 language, a marl ; of this there are four principal varieties : first, clay 

 marl ; second, sand marl ; third, slate or stony marl ; fourth, shell 

 marl ; of these, the last is commonly the richest in calcareous matter. 

 All these kinds of marls are to be found in many of the States of our 

 fTnion, and are variously valued, owing to the peculiar requirements 

 of adjacent soils. Clay marls are particularly useful to sandy soils, 

 and if spread on the surface of sods, remaining for winter's frosts to 

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