MANURES. 53 



regenerating means, placed by the author of all good within 

 the reach of the planter and the husbandman. 



The Peninsula formed by the state of Delaware and the 

 Eastern Shore of Maryland, abounds with this fertilizing agent 

 in almost all its varieties. It is pretty well established, we 

 think, that Mr. JOHN SINGLETON, of Talbot county, Mary- 

 land, was the first person who discovered the existence of marl 

 in that state, which he states was in August, 1805. The next 

 year he applied it with marked advantage to the soil. The re- 

 sult was encouraging, and he continued the use of marl from 

 that period. His intelligent neighbours gradually followed 

 his example. 



We have thus briefly sketched an outline of the history of 

 this important agent in agriculture. It seems that its value as 

 a fertilizer of the soil was long since known and acknowledged 

 yet, nevertheless, in the face of great practical results the 

 transformation of the sterile common to the fertile field such 

 were the prejudices of the great mass, that, although they could 

 not discredit the evidence of their own senses, still they were 

 slow of faith, and hesitated for a long time even to make an 

 experiment.* The Philadelphia Society did much to bring 

 the subject before the people but to a few individuals of that 

 early day, are we mainly indebted for the information dissemi- 

 nated. In this rank the late Judge PETERS was foremost. His 

 coadjutor, Dr. JAMES MEASE, who still lives to witness the won- 

 derful effects produced in our country by the application of sci- 

 ence to agriculture, laboured diligently to develope the vast re- 

 sources of these beds of mineral manure, placed by a bountiful 

 providence within the reach of man, so as to enable him to render 

 fertile, beautify and adorn the soil on which he had placed him. 

 In this good work, many very intelligent Jerseymen exerted 

 themselves to the utmost. They were not willing to reap the 

 advantages alone, but were anxious that their neighbours should 

 participate with them. The names of many individuals might 

 be here introduced, who took an active and early stand in dis- 

 seminating a knowledge of the value of marl, among the far- 

 mers of New Jersey and the adjacent states both by precept 

 and example. 



* A very intelligent and observing old gentleman of Philadelphia, in con- 

 versation with the writer of this some time since on the subject of marl, ob- 

 served, that many years ago he used occasionally to visit Haddonfield, and 

 that on explaining to the inhabitants the advantages of marl, and the necessity 

 of their applying it to their lands, in order to bring them up in the scale of fer- 

 tility, and compete with their neighbours on the score of improvement, he found 

 many of them faithless trouble, labour and expense, book-farming, &c., were 

 as so many lions in the way. Said the old gentleman, I could not but observe 

 to them, that they held a shilling so near the eye that they could not see a dol- 

 lar afar off. 



