208 FARMER'S ASSISTANT. 



generally of a bluish color, and like other marles is to be 

 known by the effervescence it occasions when droped into 

 vinegar, or other stronger acid. The greater the efferves- 

 cence the better the marie. 



See Henry's Chemistry, for the means of ascertaining 

 how much calcareous earth any marie contains. 



Upland marie should be carted out in the Fall, and 

 spread as directed for clay. The other kinds should be 

 thrown up in a dry time in the Fall, and may be carried out 

 in the Winter, or other time when the ground is sufficiently 

 firm for the purpose. 



Ashes, as a manure, are found to be more efficacious in 

 some parts of the country than in others ; generally most so 

 when applied to lands near the ocean. The Longisland 

 Farmer can afford twelve cents a bushel for even leached 

 ashes; while, in Herkimer county, they are suffered to Ije 

 untouched about the potasheries. 



Ashes generally answer the most valuable purpose when 

 applied to Indian corn, particularly where the soil is not 

 suitable to this plant. Where the soil is wet, eold, loamy, 

 or clayey, the plants are apt to get stunted by the cold 

 rains which usually fall after planting; and then the ashes 

 serve to supply the natural deficiencies of the soil, till it 

 becomes fertilized by the Summer sun. But, where the 

 soil is natural to the growth of this plant, and there is no 

 danger of its being stunted at its outset, perhaps it may be 

 better to apply the ashes later; so that the plants may de- 

 rive the greatest assistance from this manure, while the 

 ears are seting and forming. 



Ashes should generally be used for top-dressings: Their 

 salts lose nothing by exposure to the air, and soon find 

 their way into the soil. 



Soot is much more efficacious than ashes ; beside salts., 

 it contains oil. The soot of coal is esteemed equally as 

 good as that of wood. It is used for top-dressings, and re- 

 quires about forty busheb for an acre. When applied to 

 Winter-grain it should be sown in the Spring; and the 

 same may be observed of ashes. Coal-soot particularly is 

 very good for meadow-lands which have become sour and 

 mossy. This manure can, however, only be had in consi- 

 derable quantities in large towns. 



Of salts, which serve as manures, the principal are the 

 common sea-salt, urine, stale of cattle, seawater, saltpetre, 

 and alkaline salts. To the latter, the virtue of ashes, as a 

 manure, is principally owing. Soapsuds is in part valua- 

 ble on account of its alkaline salts; and perhaps the neu- 

 tralized oil it contains adds much to its value. It is usual 

 to throw this manure away ; but this is a needless waste. 

 It may be taken in the wateringpot, and strewed over the 



