Vll 



game of paper-money bankmg — to which system of delusion and fraud this other- 

 wise most blessed country and fortunate people are indebted for so much ot disas- 

 ter, loss, and, still worse, of wide-spread corruption of habits and morals. The 

 enormous apparent and illusory profits promised by this system, and by the stock- 

 jobbers who alone have fattened upon the facilities it offered for fraud and plunder, 

 served powerlully to depress the market price of lands, and to discourage agri- 

 cultural investments and pursuits. For, Avhatever actual profits the improvement 

 and cultivation of the soil might oHer to reward the care and labor of the proprie- 

 tor, the stocks of various corporations, falsely appreciated by means of a bloated 

 paper currency and by the arts of stockjobbers, promised much higher profits, 

 without requiring either cai-e, labor or risk. Thus, the higher that fictitious divi- 

 dends of profits or the false values of stocks rose, and the stronger became the 

 inducements to make stork investments, the more the prices of lands sunk (compa- 

 ratively) beloAV their true value, because of the general disposition to convert land- 

 ed capital to stock capital. But the real and solid increase of income and of wealth 

 to individuals and to the commonwealth, caused by the permanent improvement 

 of the soil, is not the less certain, or the less profitable, because fictitious appre- 

 ciations of values, caused by the fraudulent banking syslem, and the consequent 

 speculations and madness of its votaries and victims, have been both so much 

 higher and lower, at different times, as to make the amount of actu-il improved 

 values appear small in comparison, even if they were not thereby entirely con- 

 cealed. t)ut these delusive and ruinous causes of fluctuating prices and values 

 are now fast showing their emptiness, and vanishing from view ; and whenever 

 the fraudulent paper system shall be completely exposed and entirely exploded, 

 then both lands and paper money system will be estimated at their true value. 

 May the consummation be speedy, complete, and final! 



But even though, if properly and accurately estimated, the tree value of the 

 lands already marled and limed in Virginia has been increased to the amount of 

 some millions of dollars, the gain is very small compared to that which yet re- 

 mains ready to be obtained. Marling has not yet been extended over the hundredth 

 part of the surface to which it may be profitably applied — and liming not to the 

 ten-thousand ih part of the lands of the state to Avhich lime may be brought. 

 And elsewhere, with the exception of a sm.all part of Maryland, tiie beginnings 

 of marling only have as yet been made. Neverlheless, these beginninas are the 

 widely scattered seeds which will spring up and spread, and herea'ter yield abun- 

 dant harvests. In South Carolina, more especially, the use of marl has been at 

 last commenced and is now regularly prosecuted under auspices which offer as- 

 surance that the rich resources of that state, in calcareous deposites, wall not 

 much longer be permitted to lie as dead capital, of which the value was not 

 appreciated or known, and the existence scarcely suspected by the proprietors. 



In preparing this new edition, the author has endeavored to avail himself of 

 all recent liizhts, and to present a full and clear view of the general subject, as 

 well as of all essential details. The general cheoretical ojiinions, as presented in 

 the earlier editions, remain unaltered, and of course the facts of former practice ; 

 but in regard to both, while preserving the same substance, the treatment has 

 been enlarged, or the views and" statements extended for better illustration and 

 greater clearness. Whatever of other parts of the last edition could be well 

 spared, has been omitted j and much o! other additional and new matter intro- 

 duced. It has been the object of the author to render the work a full and suffi- 

 cient guide lor the conduct of novices in marling and liming, and he trusts that 

 he has not fallen very far short of attaining that object. 



December, 1842. 



