1835.] 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



423 



phuret o( iron was found — and in another body, a fluid 

 containing sulphate of iron oozes out, and when dry 

 forms a crust on the surface. Both these substances, 

 if meeting shells, would decompose them and form 

 gypsum — and thus, at least, would aid the process at- 

 tributed above to sulphuretted hydrogen alone. 



In many localities the upper layer of shelly marl 

 has been changed as above described by Mr. Newton 

 — and the .shells, and every trace of calcareous earth 

 removed. In addition to his experience on this head, 

 in Westmoreland and the adjacent counties, we will 

 name the marl beds of Henrico and of Hanover, where 

 the same appearance is frequent, if not general. But 

 in Prince George, near James River, there is no such 

 change in the upper layer of any marl that we have 

 noticed or heard of. The gypseous marl of Coggin's 

 Point, (a very peculiar kind, described p. 4 3 , Essay on 

 Cal. Man.) throughout its whole extent, as exposed to 

 view for more than half a mile along the river bank, 

 lies upon gypseous earth (of unknown depth,) from 

 which all calcareous earth has disappeared, but leaving 

 abundant evidence of its former presence in the hol- 

 low iorms of shells. 



Many calcareous marls contain a little gypsum, 

 which of course gives additional value and effect to 

 the manure. But the wet beds can hardly contain gyp- 

 sum — as even if it had been present at a former pe- 

 riod, it must have been dissolved in the water, and 

 carried off by the continual oozing. 



We concur entirely with onr correspondent in the 

 opinion that the chemical analysis of green sand has 

 exhibited no constituent part or parts, to which can be 

 properly ascribed its remarkable effects as manure — 

 and also, in considering these effects, precisely similar 

 to those of gypsum. So far as our limited experience 

 goes, the two manures act on the same kinds of plants, 

 and of soils, and are alike totally inoperative under 

 other particular circumstances. The direct effects of 

 both are transient. Neither will be found valuable, 

 (and generally have not the least effect,) on "acid 

 soils," or those the most destitute of lime in every 

 state of combination — and both become active on such 

 soils if made calcareous. However, the green sand, to 

 our own knowledge, has sometimes acted with greater 

 energy than gypsum — and besides, we have yielded to 

 Mr. Rogers' views our earliest impression, that gyp- 

 sum constituted all the value of this earth. But high- 

 ly valuable and important as are the effects of these 

 manures, in aid of, and addition to, calcareous earth, 

 there is no doubt of the immense superiority of the 

 latter. Of course, green sand can never substitute cal- 

 careous manures, though it, (or gypsum in its place,) 

 may indirectly, and in connexion with clover used as 

 manure, serve to double the profit derived from cal- 

 careous manures alone.] 



cation of calcareous earths to vineyards, is impor- 

 tant; and comes with peculiar force and propriety 

 from one of so much experience and so capable 

 of profiting by experience. Let me add, that the 

 wine made by Mr. Herbemont, is of very superior 

 quality, particularly his wiiite wine, which has 

 been said by good judges to resemble the Sauterne 

 very closely. 



Yours, 



Extract of a letter from N. Hcrbcmnnt, Esq. to 

 Gideon B. Smith, dated Columbia, S. C. Sept. 

 25th, 1835. 



"I am much obliged to you for the trouble you 

 have taken, and the consequerft information you 

 give me relative to the culture of the grape in 

 your vicinity. The Ias1 winter was the most se- 

 vere one ever experienced here within the memo- 

 ry of our oldest men. It could not have been 

 less soin Maryland. Our foreign vines were al- 

 most all killed down to the ground; but my Ma- 

 deira, or, as you call it, the Herbemont and Lenoir 

 stood it bravely. I am glad to learn that some of 

 your zealous <rent!emen do not despair of success. 

 Perseverance is the thing, and I do not know an 

 object more worthy of it." I beg you will tell such 

 of them as you may see, that the more I read and 

 reflect on the subject, the more I am satisfied of 

 the propriety of manuring the vineyards largely 

 with calcareous earths, fossil shells or marl, or 

 lime, provided the latter is no longer caustic, using 

 at Ihe same time such other manures as rich ve- 

 getable mould or cow pen manure. The expense 

 of this should be disregarded, and lor the sake of 

 economy a small extent of ground, say half or 

 one acre might be tried first. What if it should 

 cost one hundred dollars to put one acre of vines 

 in proper condition, this would be nothing, if suc- 

 cess is the consequence; for SU00 as the principal 

 would then yield from 500 to 1000 gallons of wine, 

 which at $1 50 would be an interest not to be 

 complained of." 



Let me add, as one of the reasons for the ap- 

 plication of lime in any or all of its f< >rms, to vine- 

 yards, that it is supposed by experienced men, that 

 lime protects the soil, and, consequently, the plants 

 growing in it, from the effects of severe cold in 

 winter and drough's in summer; and this, too, in 

 addition to its other not so well understood proper- 

 ties of fertilization. 



G. B. S. 



From the Farmer and Gardener. 

 CALCAREOUS SOIL FOR VINES. 



Permit me to lay before your readers the follow- 

 ing extract of a letter from Mr. Herbemont of 

 SouthCarolina, the most successful wine maker in 

 this country. The advice he gives on the appli- 



From the London Mechanic's Magazine. 



the bleach1mg mania', from a lecture 

 delivered before the chelmsford 

 mechanics' institute; by john Mur- 

 ray, ESQ. F. S. A., &C. 



Chlorine (from a Greek word signifying green) 

 is the characteristic name given to a gas discover- 

 ed by Scheele, in 1774, and called by him dephlo- 

 gisticated marine acid gas. It was some time ago 

 more generally known by the name of oxymuriaf- 

 ic acid gas, from a presumption (now considered 

 to be erroneous) that it contained oxygen; and 

 among manufacturers it goes by the name of the 

 bleaching gas. The mode of obtaining it is very 

 simple. We take black oxide of manganese and 



