[ 25 ] 



By a moderate computation this soil may be said to occupy in 

 the parishes of the district an average proportion of at least one 

 third. At a variable depth from the surface an inexhaustible store 

 of black marie is conftantly found, which from properties equally 

 singular as to fertility and duration, has advanced the lands from 

 3s. 6d. to il. 11s. 6d. per statute acre; and this too with a very 

 liberal allowance of profit to the occupier. 



This valuable manure is raised in the summer, at the average 

 depth of about seven fathom, by sinking a pit or shaft, the sides 

 whereof are secured by timber props, interspersed with wreaths of 

 brush wood. 



The first bed of marie perforated is blue, two feet thick, of a 

 stiff consistence, and on repeated trials found altogether useless. 

 Below this lies a stratum of stone, nine inches thick, and of a 

 blue color; next to which is found a bed of marie, from three to 

 four feet of thickness, nearly horizontal, of a color approaching to 

 black, and, towards the lower part, of a shelly substance ; the 

 greater predominance whereof is found proportionably to improve 

 its fertilizing property. 



The expence of raising it, including that of sinking the shaft, 

 is from six-pence to eight-pence per cart load of twenty-four 

 bushels. That, and carting out, spreading, and brushing in, 

 twelve shillings per statute acre. Forty load is an ample dressing 

 for a statute acre, which at eight-pence per load amounts to 



£. s. d. 



1 6 8 



Carting, Spreading, &c 0120 



The whole 118 8 



For which a manure is obtained that secures a luxuriant undimi- 

 nished vegetation not requiring any further assistance from thirty 

 to fifty years. The generation of moss manifests the declining 

 effects of this manure. It is considered as an indication for break- 

 ing up the old sward, which is generally done. This developes a 

 very curious and singular phcenomenon ; namely the marie spread 

 on the surface forty or fifty years before has only obtained the 

 depth of between five and six inches, where it forms a regular 



uniform 



