1835.] 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



43 



was indicated by Col. Win. D. Merrick, and visited in 

 company with this gentleman and the owner, Mr. Lat- 

 imer — there is an immense deposite of a blue marl ex- 

 ceedingly rich in calcareous matter, and containing 

 moreover a notable proportion of the green sand. The 

 analysis of this marl is given at No. 57, of the table. 

 The bed of marl now referred to is elevated from 

 thirty to fifty feet above high tide, and is covered by a 

 stratum of diluvial gravel from ten to twenty feet in 

 depth. It is decidedly one of the most important de- 

 posites of marl hitherto discovered on either shore of 

 the Chesapeake bay. Whenever the value of its con- 

 tents shall be duly appreciated it will prove the source 

 of renewed prosperity to the adjacent country, and of 

 wealth to its fortunate proprietor. That marl is des- 

 tined to become ere long an article of barter and ex- 

 change, as lime, plaster of Paris, &c. are now, there 

 cannot be the least doubt; and no situation is known in 

 Maryland that possesses more advantages for its easy 

 delivery and general distribution than Clitfton. Should 

 the public attention be called to this subject to the ex- 

 tent that it deserves, it is the duty of the state geolo- 

 gist to furnish proper directions for the best mode of 

 extracting it. Other situations presenting the same, 

 or not much inferior advantages, may be hereafter dis- 

 covered. 



"It was stated before that a stratum of copperas earth, 

 was occasionally found associated with the marl of this 

 region of country. It can be easily recognized by a 

 greenish efflorescence which usually takes place on its 

 surface after a very slight exposure, due to the forma- 

 tion of a saline substance characterized by a styptic 

 taste, and very well known in the domestic and useful 

 arts by the name of green vitriol. A stratum of this 

 earth varying from twenty to thirty feet in depth was 

 observed overlying the marl on the plantation of G. 

 Brent, Esq. Care must be had not to confound this 

 article with the green marl, which it somewhat resem- 

 bles, as its application to the soil would probably prove 

 injurious." — p. 47 to 49. 



We have entire confidence in the statements 

 and opinions of" Mr. Rogers, as quoted by the au- 

 thor. But while admitting fully the facts of the 

 remarkable and valuable operation of the green 

 sand as a manure, in the cases cited, and in very 

 many others, we more than doubt the soundness 

 of what seems to be the deduction, that equal, (if 

 indeed any) benefit may be expected generally on 

 most soils of the region convenient to this earth 

 where found in Maryland. The marl referred to 

 above (No. 57) as promising so much value, even 

 as an article of commerce, and stated as "exceed- 

 ingly rich in calcareous matter, and containing 

 moreover a notable proportion of green sand," 

 contains, according to the table, only 13 per cent, 

 of lime, and 11 of carbonic acid, (or 24 per cent, 

 of carbonate of lime) and would be rated rather 

 as poor than rich. We cannot be sure, from the 

 manner in which the constituent parts are stated, 

 how much of this specimen is properly green sand: 

 but it cannot be large, as the potash, which forms 

 one of its uniform constituent parts, amounts only 

 to one per cent. 



This sinsular earth, the green sand, offers a 

 most interesting subject for both chemical and ag- 

 ricultural investigation — and one of which almost 

 every thing is yet to be learned; and if the mode 

 in which this manure acts, can be discovered, and 

 its operation be secured in most cases when ap- 

 plied, then indeed it will prove a treasure of incal- 

 culable value. But so far, no chemist has even 

 made even a plausible surmise of what constitutes 

 the peculiar value of this earth, or how it acts: 

 and we are at present persuaded that in practice it 



will rarely be found beneficial, unless when com- 

 bined, with calcareous manure, or applied to sod 

 made calcareous previously by nature or by art. 

 This is admitted to be an opinion, which, though 

 (bunded in part on practice, needs many more ex- 

 periments to confirm its truth. But if true, there 

 can be no fair comparison of value between any 

 certain quantities of calcareous marl and of green 

 sand, as manures, unless the suitability of the soil 

 lor each is first ascertained. The application of 

 one ton of <jreen sand may in some cases add as 

 much to the succeeding crop as 20 tons of shell- 

 marl on another soil — and perhaps one bushel of 

 gypsum elsewhere would be as striking in effect. 

 But it would be a very incorrect deduction thence 

 to estimate these several quantities of different 

 manure as of equal value: and still more erroneous 

 would the supposition be, if made in regard to 

 soils, (such as we believe most in lower Mary- 

 land will prove to be,) on which neither green 

 sand nor gypsum will show their best effects, un- 

 til after the application of calcareous manures. 

 According to these views, we infer that the marls 

 of the Western Shore which are sufficiently rich 

 in calcareous matter to be valuable on that ac- 

 count, and also contain a small proportion of green 

 sand, will exhibit more effect from the latter, than 

 even a pure green sand, without any accompani- 

 ment of calcareous matter. 



Dr. Ducatel has found no trace of green sand in 

 any of the marls east of the Chesapeake — but more 

 or less of that substance is exhibited in all the spe- 

 cimens (in his tabular view,) on the western side, 

 in Prince George's and Charles Counties. None 

 of these are entirely destitute of carbonate of 

 lime, as in much of the like formation in Virginia, 

 and in New Jersey: but that ingredient is gener- 

 ally in small quantity, and in one (No. 54, from 

 St. Thomas' Manor,) the proportion is only 2£ 

 percent. Such earth as this certainly does not 

 deserve the name of marl, if that term means 

 a calcareous earth, or manure — and it is to be re- 

 gretted that the countenance of a man of science 

 should thus be given to this incorrect and inconve- 

 nient designation. 



THE INEVFICACY OF LIMING SEED WHEAT 



AS A PROTECTION FROM HESSIAN FLY 



TARRING SEED CORN. 



To Hie Editor of the Farmer's Register. 



I am aware that a large majority of your sub- 

 scribers are as well, or better qualified than my- 

 self, to contribute to your valuable journal; this, 

 however, shall not deter me from performing what 

 I conceive to be my duty, and that of every far- 

 mer — being encouraged by the recollection of the 

 poor widow's mite. If an apology should be deemed 

 necessary for thus intruding, the only one I shall 

 present is, that my example may prove an incen- 

 tive to others, who, beholding my feeble efforts 

 and penury, may be induced to contribute from 

 their abundance. 



But to the point. In Vol. I. page 351 of the 

 Farmer's Register, there is an article, taken from 

 the Canadian Courant, which professes to be an 

 infallible method of destroying the Hessian fly, 

 by soaking and liming the seed wheat. You, 

 Mr. Editor, made some remarks upon this article, 

 expressing your doubts both as to the remedy, 

 and origin of the Hessian flv, and "invited the 



