A MARL BED. 19T 



spoiled now ; but some twenty-five years ago, when the water 

 was low in that reservoir, we dug down to the depth of eight 

 feet, drawing off the muck, until we got to what we call there, 

 marl, which consisted wholly of fine shell, which may be found 

 in very many parts of the muck beds ; if you take a spoonful of 

 it, and throw it into a basin of vinegar, it will cause an efferves- 

 cence equal to saleratus. We hauled that off and put it upon 

 the land without^ any mixing with manure. I know that 

 twenty-five years ago, we drew a large quantity of that marl, 

 and put it on the south side of an orchard, and I think if I 

 could take gentlemen there next summer, they would see a 

 striking difference, notwithstanding twenty-five years have 

 passed since the application was made, in the appearance of 

 that land over the adjoining lands. It was a heavy loam, but 

 it made that land light to work, and we. have received the 

 benefit of it down to the present time. 



With regard to the application of manures, we may differ, 

 and shall differ, according to our locations, the same as we do 

 about ploughing. Mr. Clark spoke of the elm. I think the 

 corn crop would differ from the carrot crop the same as the elm 

 differs from the carrot crop. There is a growth, which must 

 be a growth of the root, to sustain the stalk running up, which 

 will descend to gain strength to support that stalk, which will 

 give me to understand that I want to put my manure at some 

 depth on that soil, in order that those roots may have a vigor- 

 ous growth. I do not believe in ploughing deeply for corn, and 

 covering my manure deep, with nothing to make the corn start 

 in the spring ; but if I can have the manure there, so that when 

 these roots start, they shall reach it, and thus gain strength to 

 sustain the stalk during the high winds we have, I think I gain 

 something. 



Mr. Clark. Do not the roots of corn come very near the 

 surface of the ground ? 



Mr. Thatcher. Yes, sir ; but you will find that they also 

 extend very deep. If you plough up the stubble, you will find 

 the roots extend down six or eight inches, I think, without any 

 doubt at all. 



Mr. Ward. I ara situated on a farm sloping to the east and 

 to the south. At the foot of the descent is a basin of some 

 twenty acres, which undoubtedly was once a pond. In that 



