202 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



[No. 5 



ken up in the following vear. The latter is cer- 

 tainlv the preferable, as well as the most general 

 practice, (or it not alone produces an abundance of 

 good pasture, but it affords time for the season to 

 operate in bringing the marl into a fit state for fu- 

 ture tillage crops, which cannol be done in the com- 

 mon course of cropping, because it becomes buried 

 by the plough belore it is properly mixed with the 

 soil, especially if turned in deep the first earth. It 

 should, therefore, be allowed sufficient time to 

 sink, and eat itself into the the surface, before it is 

 ploughed up. This, however, i*s by some persons 

 carried to an absurd length, as they occasionally 

 spread a coat of marl upon the green sward, and 

 leave itthere unploughed for manyyears, in which 

 case the grass receives considerable detriment, for 

 the marl Ihen sinlcs downwards in a body, without 

 incorporating with the soil; though, when it has 

 lain a long tune in this state, the subsequent crops 

 of corn have been found to be enormous*. If laid 

 upon grass, it may be carried out during all periods 

 of the'^year in which the crop is not in a forward 

 state of growth; but if applied to arable land in- 

 tended lor immediate cultivation, the months of 

 June and July, or soon afterthe autumn seed-time, 

 are considered the best for its application. If laid 

 on a short time previous to winter, its effect is also 

 generally prompt, because, except it be of a very 

 tenacious kind, the action of the cold and rain com- 

 monly divide it in time, to be thoroughly amalga- 

 mated with the soil by the tillage of a summer liil- 

 lovv. If however, it "be only applied during the 

 spring months, this cannot be so properly carried 

 into execution, for it requires the winter's rain and 

 frost to crumble it, and it consequently has but lit- 

 tle power upon the year's crop. A complete sum- 

 mer fallow is, undoubtedly, the best mode of 

 bringing it into perfect operation : but not only is 

 the expense often objected to, but there is also a 

 strong prejudice entertained by many persons 

 against liillowing — into which it is not our present 

 object to inquire, although we necessarily shall 

 have occasion to notice it hereafter. 



It is almost superfluous to add, that, m what- 

 ever manner it be applied, it must be equally spread 

 over the land; and if' there should be any large 

 lumps remaining, these should be broken with mal- 

 lets, or clotting-beetles, in the same manner as 

 chalk, before it is ploughed in. This, however, is 

 not usually done until the marl has partaken of 

 both one sununer's sun and one winter's frost; 

 and should the previous season have proved unfa- 

 vourable to the reduction of the marl to small par- 

 ticles, the process, in some cases, costs so much, 

 that, when laid upon grass or clover, it is often 

 found more advisable to leave the ground unbro- 

 ken during another year. Then, when well 

 crumbled, dry weather should be chosen for rol- 

 Img and harrowing it — a first time with heavy 

 rollers and drags, and a second, after it has been 

 exposed to rain, and has been again dried : in short, 

 until it has been rendered as small as possible; af- 

 ter which it should be lightly ploughed m, again 

 harrowed, and receive from two to four plough- 

 ings, according to the condition of the soil. The 

 intermixture of the marl with the earth cannot, in 

 fact, be too complete; for whatever proportion re- 



* Dickson's Original Report of Lancashire, Steven- 

 son's edit., p- 490 



mains uncombined with the soil, will not alone fail 

 of producing the intended effect, butjvill have one 

 of an opposite and prejudicial tendency. 



The quantity of marl which it may be prudent 

 to apply to the land depends entirely on the nature 

 of the soil, and the properties of the marl: the 

 more calcareous is the latter, the greater is the 

 effect which it will produce, as a stimulant; and 

 shell marl possesses, besides, the additional power 

 of nourishing the soil by the vegetable and animal 

 mould with which it is combined. This species^ 

 was formerly profusely used on every sort of 

 ground, but at present the average amount applied 

 to land of the medium kind is from 30 to 40, or, if 

 it be very lifrht, only 25 cartloads, of 16 cubic fiiet 

 per acre. Land of the latter quality may, indeed, 

 be readily over marled; as by repeated marling, in 

 large quantities, the suriace'of poor ground may 

 he rendered so loose that, in some cases, it has not 

 afforded a sufficient hold to the roots of corn and 

 grass*. Double the quantity may, however, be 

 laid upon strong cohesive soils, for it is not so easy 

 to give them too large a dose; but if cold, wet, or 

 moorish, great circumspection is requisite in the 

 application of this marl, for if the land be not pre- 

 viously well drained, it will only increase its tena- 

 city. 



The earthy marls, if much mixed with clay, are 

 only fit for light soils; and, if applied to them, the 

 quantity must be increased in proportion to the 

 deficiency of calcareous matter. When of good 

 quality, containing about 20 to 25 per cent, of cal- 

 careous or chalky substance, they are commonly 

 laid upon such land to the thickness of an inch; 

 which will require 135 cubic yards, or about 200 

 single-horse cart-loads per acref- sandy marl, 

 though generally more calcareous; yet being dug 

 up with less labour, is often used upon clays with 

 greater fr-eedom; and we have already seen the 

 great extent to which stony marl is sometimes ap- 

 plied J. In many parts, however; where the ef- 

 fects of marl have been extensively experienced, 

 these quantities have been diminished one-halfj 

 with nearly, if not entirely, the same immediate 

 effect upon the crops, though its power has been 

 less durable, and has in most cases altogether 

 ceased at the end of at most a dozen years; but, 

 then, it admits of the following advantages — a 

 fiirmer may be able to afford half the expense, 

 when the whole amount may be beyond his means; 

 or, at the same time, he can marl double the ex- 

 tent of land, and he can reap all the probable ben- 

 efit within the term of a moderate lease. Nor is 

 this all; for, supposing him to have the freehold — 

 it has been found, tJiat when large quantities of 



* Perth Report; and Appendix to that of Chpshire, 

 No. 3- 



f Clay-marl is not iincommonly laid upon light soils 

 to the extent of two roods, eacli containing 64 cubic 

 yards; but on lieavy land, half tliat quantity per acre is 

 considered a good covering. — Chesfiire Report, p. 222. 



\ See p. 30S. Throughout many part? of Scotland it 

 is applied at the rate of 200 to 300 small cart-loads per 

 Scotch acre, — equal to 160 to 240 per imperial acre. 

 It is there commonly applied to grass land, and allow- 

 ed to remain one or more winters on the surface, until 

 completely reduced by the frost. — Survey of Moray- 

 shire, pp. 21-320; Foriaishire, p. 407. 



