

MANURES. 51 



its value as an agricultural agent, was known before the revo- 

 lution; yet, strange to say, little or no attention was paid to it 

 until within a few years past. The first successful trial of marl 

 as a manure, was made, we believe, in the neighbourhood 01 

 Pemberton, Burlington county, New Jersey, about the close 

 of the last century. The first notice we find of it is in a paper 

 "On a new mineral manure for clover," by JOSIAH REEVES, 

 of Rancocus Creek, Burlington county, N. J., read before the 

 Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture, Dec. 9, 1806. 

 He says 



On rny farm, and throughout our neighbourhood, it abounds near the sur- 

 face in the meadows, and generally in the banks and hill sides. The depth of 

 the veins not definitely ascertained varying, Mr. REEVES thinks, from six to 

 fifteen feet. "The result of my own and my neighbours' experience is, that 

 for grass lands (the basis of all good husbandry) about ten two horse loads to 

 the acre, laid on the surface in autumn, is better, if the next season prove 

 moisf, than double the quantity of any other manure, and will last longer 

 changing in two years rough-bound meadow into almost clear white and red 

 clover. But the last dry summer it did very little good. I am in the practice 

 of mixing in my barn-yard, or in the jcompost heap, the marl with the dung, 

 two loads of the former with one of the latter, and always find that it is as 

 good, if not better than the same quantity of dung alone. 



Mr. REEVES furnished the late Dr. SEYBERT with the spe- 

 cimen he analyzed we believe the first submitted to chemical 

 analysis.* 



Notwithstanding this conclusive evidence in favour of marl, 

 from a source entitled to the highest credit, it was regarded 

 with great caution; its progress of course was tardy, and we 

 hear but little more of the subject until about the year 1813. 

 The fifth volume of the Memoirs of the Philadelphia Society 

 contains a communication dated Evesham, N. J., 9th mo. 20th, 

 1815, on the New Jersey marls, by MARK REEVES. This 

 was a lucid article, and performed its office by directing the 

 attention of public spirited men to the subject. This valuable 

 contribution to the Memoirs was followed by another, from 

 the pen of a gentleman, now no more, but whose moral worth, 

 and great practical knowledge, endeared him to the circle of 

 his friends and the community at large. We refer to the late 

 Dr. GEORGE HOLCOMB, of Allentown, N. J., who was struck 

 down by the hand of death in the midst of years and useful- 

 ness. His paper on New Jersey marls was written Sept. 30, 

 1815, ten days after that of Mr. REEVES; and, from one of the 

 following extracts, we learn that on one farm, at least, in the 

 county of Monmouth, it had been in use for twelve years, with 

 the greatest benefit. Dr. H. gives the following cases of ex- 

 traordinary production, in order to exhibit the surprising ef- 

 fects of marl at that period. 



* The analysis made by Dr. SEYBERT gave, silica 49.83 alumina 6.92 pro- 

 toxide of iron 21.53 potash 10.12 magnesia 1.83 water 9.80, in the 1.00 grs. 



