No. 2] 



FARMERS' REGISTER, 



111 



it ought also to be found there. Guided by these 

 ideas of analogy, I have myself found it between 

 Chalaniont and JNIcxiniieux, and in the environs 

 of Chalaniont, JM. Rivoire has sent me some 

 from Rigneux, which contains 60 per cent, of car- 

 bonate of lime. It is Ibund in the little valley of 

 a rivulet which passes St. Eloi: that which passes 

 Chalamont contains it also in great abundance ; 

 and it remains proved to me, that the valleys ot 

 the small tributaries of the three large rivers con- 

 tain it ill Dombe, as in Brcssc ; that, if there is 

 no marl yet discovered on the table land, it is be- 

 cause on flats, much elevated above the course of 

 the three rivers, it would be perhaps Ibund at a 

 very great depth, which would render its extrac- 

 tion difficult enough, on account of the Avater. 

 which could run in the work. However, there 

 are no certainties on this point ; and the country- 

 onght to be explored on the table lands, in this 

 point of view, where, perhaps, would be found, as 

 in Bresse, marly veins showing at (he surface of 

 the declivities. The borer would be very usefulfor 

 this purpose, taking care to direct it where sand 

 would be found. 



If it happens, which is very likely, that no 

 marl can be found in the interior on the table 

 Iand.s, the bottom of the valleys of the three great 

 rivers which surround this country, and the first 

 range of hills Avhich border the bpttom of the 

 basins, contain it in large quantities, and can furnish 

 continual supplies for tlie interior. Besides, tlie 

 country is furrowed by small rivers, in Avhose 

 channels or basins much of it can be seen. With 

 these resources alone, a considerable part of the 

 surface could be ameliorated ; and if bad roads, 

 moist climate, and the craggy soil, prevented the 

 transportation of marl in the interior, lime, which 

 is the vivifying principle of marl, could supply 

 its place. \Ve propose to estimate, hereafter, this 

 resource, which has changed the ftice of so many 

 districts of analogous soil in France and other 

 countries. 



We ought not to conclude on this subject, with- 

 out observing that marl, to diminish sensibly un- 

 healthiness in the whole of a country, ought pro- 

 bably to be extended to a great part of its surface. 

 The marl of each farm would cause a diminution 

 of unhealthiness, according to what we think, tor 

 that property itself and its inhabitants : but they 

 would still suffer fi-om the unhealthy emanations 

 of the neighboring places, which had not been 

 marled. Salubrity would increase in proportion 

 as the general marling would increase ; and when 

 the whole surface would experience the benefits 

 of marl, then, with the heaUhiness which would 

 preserve individuals for labor and increase of the 

 population, with the fecundity which would offer 

 the greatest products without being obliged to in- 

 crease the labor, we would see the country ad- 

 vance rapidly towards a better future. Then, by 

 the force of things, and at the same time that the 

 marling would develope its results, we would 

 come to the draining of the greater part of these 

 numerous ponds, which would be the only re- 

 maining source of unhealthiness. The ponds 

 Avhich, lor ages, receive, by means of the wa- 

 ters, the manure of the surrounding land, would 

 soon be made, some, good meadows, and other.?, 

 the best cultivated lands of the country ; and 

 these lands, provided with accumulated vege- 

 table matter, by receiving marl, would be niade 



healthy and fruitfuL This country has very few 

 marshes. Almost all of the ponds are drained 

 first to obtain the fish, and then to be cultivated • 

 and, coilsequcntlj-, they contain no water. The 

 marshy meadows themselves, which are at the 

 extremity of the ponds, would be drained and 

 be made healthy by the draining of the former. 



Besides, the table-land, which forms this coun- 

 try, is very much elevaledabove the valleys, of the 

 two rivers which border it, and receive its waters; 

 for the numerous ponds, which succeed each 

 other, arc the places where the waters meet, and 

 consequently the lowest parts of each canton. 

 But those low places have themselves a very great 

 fiill, as it is equal to the height of their banks, 

 which are, on an average, ten feet high. The 

 central part of the country, which separates, (in 

 o'oing from north to south,) the two fiovvings of 

 the waters, the one towards the west in the Saone^ 

 the other towards the east in the Ain and in the 

 Rhone, is then elevated above the countries 

 which border these two rivers, in a measure at 

 least equal to the sum of the banks of the ponds, 

 which would be more than one hundred feet ; 

 for the number of these ponds is large. The 

 country has there a considerable declivity, and, 

 consequently, after the draining of the ponds, the 

 rain water would easily run off, without forming 

 marshes. 



This country, freed from the greater part of its 

 ponds, having a large portion of the soil made 

 healthy, and purged from the infected flouve 

 which covers it, cultivated by a population more 

 numerous, stronger, and richer, would advance 

 rapidly to prosperity, sustained by the market, 

 which a city of 150,000 souls offers, it would 

 brinsr, on its own soil, (which would have ceased 

 to be deadly,) a part of the inhabitants of this 

 city„ which would also be enriched by the new 

 addition of commerce. These inhabitants would 

 come with eagerness to repose in the bosom of 

 agriculture, in a country become healthy andfruit- 

 fiil, escaping fi-om the embarrassments and cares 

 of the earlier part of their lives ; bringing with 

 them their large capitals, they would draw thither 

 hands for labor; they would give movement and 

 life to all around them; they would develope in- 

 dustry in a country now abandoned, by a greater 

 part of its proprietors, to the care of a scant and 

 weak population, without any degree of energy. 



From tlie Southern Agiicultiirist. 

 SALT MARSH GRASS AS FODDER. 



James Island, JlprilQth, 1836. 



I have frequently wondered that our planters do 

 not give more attention, to curing salt marsh 

 [grass] as a fodder for their horses and cattle. This 

 is the more to be wondered at, when we reflect 

 that hay is now selling at ^2 per hundred. When 

 will we begin to supply ourselves with our own 

 provisions? When will we become independent 

 of the northern markets? Is it because we have 

 not the means at hand? I shall show you. Sir, 

 that in one article at least, we have the means of 

 supplying ourselves; and that too, not only well, 

 but cheaply. I mean in the article of salt marsh 

 [grass] as a substitute for hay. 



