486 



THE FARMERS' REGISTER. 



that intended (or corn had been limed. In both 

 cases ihe increased growth ol clover and weeds 

 plainly exhibited the benefits of the application, 

 as did also ihe improved crop of wheat this sea- 

 sun, distincily marking the hmits of the manur- 

 ing, as does also the now superior growth of 

 young clover. So far as the corn crop has yet pro- 

 gressed, there is an evident in)prove.menl in iis 

 growth, as compared with that on similar soil on 

 which no manure had been applied ; but not as 

 yet so decided or obvious as on the wheat crop. 

 When prevented from h^iuling out all the manure 

 collected during the winter and early spring 

 momhs, prior to the middle of April, I have 

 repeatedly applied it to clover, together vviih all 

 collected during summer, so late in the season 

 as the munihs of August and September, on 

 young clover with very evident benefiis. In this 

 case no piling up was resorted lo ; leaving ihe 

 accumulation of manure in the yards, to lay 

 with a surface as little broken as possible, and 

 protected by a covering of straw or other coarse 

 litter, and keeping it as much as possible saturat- 

 ed vviih water. By ;his mode manure will be 

 prevented from becoming moulded, decomposiiion 

 will proyjress slowly, comparatively little bulk 

 will be lost, and little if any of its lierlilizing 

 properties. So lar as my observation and experi- 

 ence have led me in this climaie, the application 

 of all putrescent manure to young clover, is ihe 

 most economical and profitable application that 

 can be made of ii. And the less ihe degree o! 

 lermentaiion which has taken place previous to 

 its application the better. When unrotied straw, 

 cornstalks, shucks, &c., have bt-en applied to a 

 good slaiid of clover, early in the spring, 1 have 

 never experienced any uitRculiy m ploughing 

 ihem uniJer in the fail or winter mouths, and 

 have generally lound them almost entirely de- 

 composed. W lien not completely covered and pro- 

 tected by a lull growth ol clover and weeds, 

 decomposition will progress more slowly ; the 

 underkiy ing toil will however derive considerable 

 beiiefii, but not equal lo thai dtrived Irom an in- 

 creased giowih of clover, when applied to that 

 valuable leriilizer. In lulure years it is contecn- 

 plaied that this will be the general mode ol 

 applying all putrescent manures on this estaie, 

 securing first a good stand of clover, i have 

 invariably lound clover manurea m the spring lo 

 vviihsiand the summer droughts of this climate 

 much belter tlian that on which no such applica- 

 tion had been made ; and as the increased breadifi 

 ol land rendered calcareous by the applicaiion ol 

 lime or marl progresses, a preference will be 

 given lo soils wind) have received such applica- 

 iious, and on which manures will douliiless prove 

 the most profitable. 



The ploughing under of green crops (other 

 than clover) lijr manure has been only recently 

 attempted here ; experience has yet lo test their 

 value. No doubts however are enleriained as to 

 their profit and utility. Pine leaves applied to 

 limed soils have here proved beneficial. 



Belbre the year 1831 very little lime Iiad been 

 used on any portion of the estate ; and from 

 ihat period up to the beginning ol 1840, 170 

 acres un the Rowe larrn, 260 on Teddington, 

 and 90 on ihe Neck larm, equal in all to 520 

 acres, had received a dressing ol' oyster shell lime, 

 at a rale pe!r acre varying Irom 90 to 120 bush- 



els, or in all, as near as can now be ascertained, 

 equal to 3000 hogsheads of shells. The annual 

 applications were given to the fields planted in 

 corn ; and seleciinu the poorest or least produciive 

 portions of these fields, and consequently on de- 

 tached portions of each farm. The benefits resulting 

 Irom tiie application have been most decided ; 

 the increased growih of weeds, clover, corn and 

 wheat, point out each application as distinctly as 

 if each were separaiely fenced off. The increased 

 products on these particular spots have not been 

 accurately ascertained or noted ; but when, by the 

 eye comparing ihem with surrounding land not 

 limed, the increase is not less than double in corn 

 and threefold in wheat and clover, and gives 

 ample encouragement to persevere in its applica- 

 tion. In addition lo the above quantities of shell 

 lime used during the period above mentioned, 

 Irom 1000 to 1200 bushels of marl were brought 

 over from the opposite side of the river, in Surry 

 couniy, where there are extensive deposites of marl, 

 and were applied to a corner of a field on Teddini;- 

 ton. The quantity of lime contained in the marl 

 was not known, nor is it now recollected how 

 much was applied per acre ; supposed to have 

 been a slight dressing ; and as probably all of the 

 corner of land so marled, Irom Us near vicinity to 

 several house.--, has had ashes applied to it oc- 

 casionally, it is doubilul how much improvement 

 may justly be aiiribuled to the application ol' the 

 marl. The crop ol' clover on it of this season is 

 equal, if not superior, to that on adjoining limed 

 laud. 



In 1840 the purchase of calcareous matter was 

 largely eniered into on this estate. 76 hhds. 

 of oyster shells were purchased at 75 cents per 

 hhd., .S57.00, and 1962 hhds. ai 70 cents, ^1373.40, 

 in all 2038 hhds., cosimg ^1430.40. In addition to 

 these, 90 casks of northern stone lime were pur- 

 chased, costing 90 cents per cask, $81.00; and 

 early in the season, a contract was entered into lor 

 a supply of 40,000 bushels of marl, Irom a bank on 

 the Suiry side oi" the river, distant about 7 miles, 

 lor 4 cenis per bushel, and of which 20.000 bushels 

 were delivered during the year, making the cost 

 of marl lor the year ^800.00 ; and in all, (or marl, 

 stone luiie an.i shells, a total of ^2311.40. Of the 

 at)Ove quaniities not more than 300 hhds. of 

 shells were burned, and applied to the soil in 1840, 

 at ibe rate of from 100 to 120 bushels per acre, 

 all of the s'nne lime at the rate ol 60 bushels per 

 acre, and 5200 bushels of marl, at the rate of 130 

 bushels per acre. (A large application of lime 

 and marl was made early ihis year, and which 

 will be relijrred to in a suhtiequent communica- 

 tion.) The above (juantiiy ol marl will appear 

 to many a very slight a()plicaiion. When the con- 

 iracl was eniered luio, Ihe contractors stated the 

 sirengih of the marl to be 85 per cent, of lime ; 

 and no doubt ihey were correct, so (ar as a particu- 

 lar selected specimei" was concerned ; but not so 

 as regards the general body of marl, which, 

 Irom subsefjuenl analysis, proved to be only yj,^„. 

 Our subsequent applications have consequently 

 been increased so as to give upwards of 100 bush- 

 els of lime per acre ; ihe object lor the present 

 being to give as large a surface as possible a 

 speedy dressing. Improvement to the soil will in 

 the meantime be progressing ; and an increased 

 application will immediately lollow. Considering 

 Ihe lacililies, which the deposite of marl presents 



