NO* KS AN* 



and formation of the country, afford a gratification to all his natural inclinations 

 and propensities. 



I do not, however, knOAv that the raarl discovered in abundance in Ulster and 

 Orange counties has been found in their neighbourhood ; and it is proper to re 

 mark, that in these sunken receptacles of vegetable and testaceous solutions, have 

 niformly been found the bones of the mammoth. Perhaps it maybe said, that 

 fti this marl, by its alkaline qualities, has the preservation of these fossils alone 

 been preserved from dissolution and decay. The formation of these has evident- 

 ly been the work of ages. In many places the body of this manure is thirty feel 

 in depth ; over which grass and vegetable plants, interspersed with trees of dif- 

 ferent kinds common to such grounds, grew in abundance. In these places are 

 uniformly found living springs, and abundance of snails and muscles, which, with 

 vegetable substances, constitute the marl of different colours and, (in some 

 respects) qualities. 



It may not be improper here to add a few remarks on the subject of this natu- 

 ral manure, which sooner or later cannot fail to be a source of wealth to the agri- 

 culturalist. The use of it has heretofore been superseded by the introduction of 

 gypsum, on account of the cheapness of the litter ; but interruptions of commerce 

 have already very considerably enhanced the value of this article ; and the dis- 

 tance of transportation of that discovered in the western parts of this state, must 

 aecessarily put it at a price much higher than usual to our farmers. 



The marl here discovered is constituted principally of the solutions of small 

 shells of the muscle and of the snail families; it is mixed with a proportionate quan- 

 tity of vegetable substances, such as leaves, roots, &c which find their way by the 

 winds into the waters of these swampy, wet places : these sink to the bottom of 

 the water, and the snails and muscles deposite their ova or sperm upon them ; and 

 the returning spring, by its genial warmth and natural process brings them forth. 

 They grow for the season, and in the autumn again deposite their ova or sperm up- 

 on the fragments of vegetables,which find their way iuto these watery habitations. 

 I do not know what the theory of conchoiogists may be, as to the procreation of 

 these shellfish ; nor am 1 at all versed in this kind of natural history ; but taking 

 the facts as I have witnessed them, I feel authorized to give this as a theory re- 

 sulting from actual and personal observations. If a better can be offered by others, 

 I am contented ; but, nntil"then, I trust it may be insisted that thit is a reasonable 

 explanation of the formation of marl. By this theory it will be perceived that 

 the quantities of marl are continually increasing ; a fact of great importance to 

 the inhabitants and owners of the soil. It may be proper to mention, also, that 

 this marl lies in different places in the vicinity of the depositories of these bones ; 

 and that, as yet, little use has been made of it as a manure ; the high price of 

 r-ibour has hitherto prevented the farmer from having recourse to this ottrce oC 



