1836.] 



FARMERS' REGISTER, 



277 



this river, and he fold me that this was identically 

 the same with the New Jersey green sand, that it 

 appeared there in all the varieties it did here, with 

 and without lime, but that some ol" the Jersey 

 green sand was richer than any he had met with 

 liere. But the green sand of Jersey difi'crs from 

 ours in a geological point of view, being ofthe se- 

 condary foimation, and therelbre the shells dilf'er 

 from those of the deposite here, as to kind, but 

 agree as to quality. 



As I belbre observed, my experience with the 

 green sand proper is limited. I had never heard of 

 the name, much less know the value ofthe article, 

 until last winter 12 months, when I met with Pro- 

 fessor Rogers' paper on the subject in the Far- 

 mers' Register, previous to which, 1 had always 

 rejected the green sand, when Ave came to it in 

 working our banks : hn ving tested it by analysis, as 

 regards lime, and finding very little, I rejected it 

 as altogether worthless. Since knowing its char- 

 acter, 1 have used a good deal of it; but do not 

 think we have had time enough, yet, properly to 

 test its merits: however, as far as we can judge, 

 so far, its efl'ects are flattering; indeed in some 

 instances very remarkable. The finest celery 1 

 ever saw grow, was in trenches half filled with 

 green sand, and no manure; it was doubly as good 

 as the rest ofthe square, (winch was also good,) 

 cultivated in the usual way, the trenches well ma- 

 nured, but without green sand or marl. I also 

 tried it on a galled knoll, where the soil was en- 

 tirely washed off. The land was lightly sprinkled 

 with straw, a part was dressed with marl, contain- 

 ing a goodly portion of lime, and some green sand — 

 good marl, but not the best quality. The other 

 part was dressed with green sand, both at the rate 

 of 200, or 250 bushels to the acre. Where the ; 

 first was applied, the land gave some signs of vi- : 

 tality, (the whole piece being planted in corn.)-; 

 Wliere the green sand was applied, there was a 

 smart growth of corn, with pretty good ears, the '. 

 other producing none. But the most decided [ 

 proof of its beneficial efli^cts, Avas evidenced on j 

 cotton. 1 selected, as I thought, the poorest spot , 

 on the farm where I reside, the spring of 1835, j 

 (being a part of one of those cattle-starving, com- j 

 fort-killing appendages, called a standing pasture,) 

 and fiillowed up a fisw acres which I put in cotton; I 

 the whole was manured in the drill with coarse 

 litter. On about 3 acres, the litter in the drills was 

 top-dressed with green sand at about 100 bushels 

 to the acre; but I should observe, that this green 

 sand was of an inferior quality to that used with 

 the celery and corn, not being from the same de- 

 posite, and beinir the upper, or overlying stratum 

 of the tertiary formation, containing about 30 per 

 cent, of green sand and 5 of gypsum, most of it 

 having no lime at all. On another acre, old ashes 

 in about the same proportion were applied, in the 

 same way, and the cultivation was" precisely the 

 same on these 4 acres, as on the rest ofthe patch. 

 Where the green sand and ashes were put, I could 

 see no difference : but between that, and where no 

 marl or ashes were put, it was as five to one or 

 more. Where the green sand and ashes were ap- 

 plied, the cotton was of fine size, and as well 

 branched and boiled, as I ever saw cotton, while 

 that of the other was small and trifling — scarcely 

 worth any thing. The green sand first spoken of, 

 as being used with the corn and celery, I also used 

 with cotton, upon land that had never before 



brought cotton, although frequently fried, being 

 very light and sandy. It was used in the same 

 way as the other, in the drill, with coarse litter : 

 the crop was very fine for the year, maturing very 

 early, and the staple good; it was decidedly the 

 best cotton I saw last tall, and it was all open be- 

 f()rc the first li-ost. This piece of land, though, had 

 been previously marled, and therelbre I cannot 

 say how much the green sand is entitled to claim 

 lor the crop. I tried the green sand also on cim- 

 lins the last year, but could see no efl'ect; those on 

 which none Avas put, being as good as where it 

 was. They were all good, but I could ascribe 

 nothing to the green sand. 



Rly next experiment at home, AA'as Avith turnips, 

 both ruta biiga and common Avhite, (lor here I 

 have only been using marl since last summer.") 

 The Ian. I Avas prepared as for the cotton, except 

 that the litter Avas not so good, the drills lour feet 

 apart, the manure spread m time and top-dressed 

 with green sand marl, being about equal parts of 

 green sand and lime, say 34 or 35 parts of each, at 

 the rate of 100 bushels to the acre; the land was 

 then bedded on the litter, and the turnips sowed on 

 the top of the beds. This was ordinary land, not 

 good for more than 3 to 4 barrels of corn to the 

 acre; it Avas forgotten to leave out any rows Avith- 

 out marling. The fall Avas said to be a bad one 

 hereabouts for turnips, but the Avhole crop was ex- 

 cellent, perhaps the best I ever had. The only 

 difficulty Avith them Avas, that the marl fbrAvarded 

 them rather too much for Avinter keep. 



In September and October, I marled about 50 

 acres of clover flillow for Avheat at the rate of 200 

 bushels per acre, the marl being that last spoken 

 of, equal parts of lime and green sand. So far the 

 wheat promises well : Avithout additional disasters, 

 or an increase of the strut, Avith which it is seri- 

 ously affected, it will probably make 20 or 25 bush- 

 els per acre. 



The eff(3ct, or supposed efl'ect, of marl on this 

 wheat, I should not have mentioned, as the land 

 was in good Iiear-t, and had a good groAvth of clo^ 

 A'er on it, but lor the fact of the field, (which is all 

 light land,) having several sandy knolls in it, Avhich 

 had no clover on them, and Avhich I scarcely CA'er 

 saAV bring Avheat or corn; and I can noAV see but 

 little difference between tliose spots and the rest of 

 the field: that certainly proves something. The 

 land was fallowed Avilh three- horse, or rather 10 

 inch Davis ploughs, the marl then spread, and re- 

 ploughed Avith smaller ploughs as shalloAV as pos- 

 sible, the Aviieat then sowed and dragged in both 

 ways, so as to mix the marl as perfectly as it could 

 be effected. 



On the plantation Avhere I commenced marling 

 4 or 5 years ago, all has been realized that the 

 most sanrruine could ha\'e anticipated. The open 

 land will be nearly finished this year once going 

 over, at about 250 bushels to the acre; and the farm 

 now presents an entirely neAV face. Where three 

 years ago there Avas a sparse growth of hen's 

 grass, now is the most luxuriant cloA'er. The first 

 land I marled there, was a very poor piece of hen's 

 grass indeed; the next year it came into corn, 

 Avhen it received a light dressinf; of coarse manure. 

 I'he corn Avas good, say 6 or 7 barrels at least; it 

 Avas folloAved by wheat, Avhich Avas also excellent, 

 and the clover is now, I dare say, as good as any I 

 ever saw. I find the deep blue marl, or having 

 that appearance in the bank, containing most green 



