GALCAREOUS MANURES— PRACTICE. ^^ 



most by drying, and as the ears on A were generally very defective and 

 badly filled, if the measurement had been made in the sound and well dried 

 grain of each parcel, the product of A could not have exceeded one-fourth 

 of that of the surrounding marled land, and probably was less. 



But though these differences of product present the improvement caused 

 by marling in a striking point of view, this close and stubborn soil at best 

 is very unfit for the corn crop ; and its highest value is found under clover, 

 and in wheat on clover, of which some proofs will be found in the next ex- 

 periment. The first crop of clover, however, after marling, has not since 

 been equalled. 



My subsequent distant residence prevented my observing this field when 

 under any matured crop, until in 1842, when in wheat. The growth on 

 the unmarled space was certainly not more than one fourth as much as 

 that of the surrounding ground. 



Experiment 7. 



Another piece of land of twenty-five acres, of soil and qualities similar 

 to the last described, (Exp. 5 and 6,) was cleared in 1818, and about six 

 acres marled in 1819, at about three hundred and fifty bushels. The course 

 of cultivation was as follows : 



1820— Corn— benefit from marl very unequal— supposed to vary between 

 twenty-five and eighty per cent. 



1821. Wheat— the benefit derived greater. 



1822. At rest. 



1823. Ploughed early for corn, but not planted. The whole marled at 

 the rate of six hundred bushels (40 per cent.) again ploughed in August, 

 and sown in wheat in October. The old marled space more lightly 

 covered, so as to make the whole nearly equal. 



1824. The wheat much improved. 

 1825 and 1826, at rest. 



1827. Corn. 



1828. In wheat, and sown in clover. 



1829. The crop of clover was heavier than any I had ever seen in this 

 part of the country, except in some very rare cases of rich natural soil, 

 where gypsum was used and acted well. The growth was thick, but 

 unequal in height, (owing probably to unequal spreading of the marl,) 

 standing from fifteen to twenty-four inches high. The first growth was 

 mowed for hay, and the second left to manure the land. 



1830. The clover not mowed. Fallowed in August, and sowed wheat 

 in October, after a second ploughing. 



1831. The wheat was excellent, almost heavy enough to be in danger of" 

 lodging. I supposed the product to be certainly twenty bushels, perhaps 

 twenty-five, to the acre. 



As it had not been designed to make any experiment on this land, the 

 progress of improvement was not observed with much care. But what- 

 ever were the intermediate steps, it is certain that the land, at first, was as 

 poor as that forming the subjects of the two preceding experiments in the 

 unimproved state, (the measured products of which have been given,) and 

 that its last crop was at least four times as great as could have been ob- 

 tained, if marl had not been applied. The peculiar fitness of this kind of 

 soil for clover after marling, and the supposed cause of the remarkable 

 heavy ^rs^ crop of clover, will require further remarks, and will be again 

 referred to hereafter. 



