NOTES. 37 



partly applied in spring, drilled between the rows of wheat, and there was no 

 perceptible difference in the produce, between the land manured with the shell- 

 powder, or with the powdered rape-cake. 



225 A curious circumstance is mentioned by the same author, which he in- 

 geniously accounts for. A quantity of very mild lime was laid in a heap, w here 

 it remained for some time, and when it was removed, the spot was covered with 

 white clover. A heap of hot lime was left for the same space of time, no ve- 

 getation took place for a considerable period, and the spot was at length cover- 

 ed with couch grass Neither the clover nor the couch-grass could be pro- 

 duced by the heaps of lime, but the circumstance is thus accounted for : The 

 hot lime retained its causticity much longer, and in that state, destroyed any 

 seeds contained in the soil ; but the couch grass being less easily destroyed, or 

 shooting and spreading from the neighbouring land, soon took possession 

 of the vacant spot. In regard to the clover's following the mild lime, there is 

 nothing singular, as its seed is very generally diffused, and always vegetates in 

 a calcareous soil. 



226 Perthshire Report, p. 283. 



227 Remark by Edward Burroughs, Esq. 



228 A ridge of irregular hillocks run across the parish, which consist of large 

 sand, or rather gravel. This gravel has of late been used with great success, 

 as a manure for the land in the neighbourhood. Its excellency was discovered 

 about twenty or twenty-five years ago, (that is, about the year 1770, the ac- 

 count being dated 1793). They use this gravel for repairing the highway be- 

 tween Aberdeen and Peterhead ; and some years after, they were surprised to 

 see fine white clover, growing very thick on those places of the road, which had 

 been repaired with this gravel, and every other place as bare as ever. This in- 

 duced them to try the gravel as a manure, which they continue to use, and find 

 it uncommonly rich and durable. Statistical Account of Scotland, (Parish of 

 SlainsJ, vol. v. p. 280. * 



229 Hence straw, for hats, and similar manufactures, is found in the great- 

 est perfection in the neighbourhood of Dunstable, Luton, and other places in 

 the Chi 1 torn range of hills. It is probable, that the i>ilez which the soil in these 

 districts contains, produces this effect. 



250 Communication from John Middleton, Esq. 



231 On the other hand, many valuable pits of water have been obtained, by 

 taking out clay-marl for the sandy lands in Norfolk. 



232 See Marshall's Review of the Northern Departments, p. 287, &c. where 

 the information contained in the Lancashire Report upon this subject is very 

 ably analyzed. In many parts of Derbyshire and Cheshire, there are the ves- 

 tiges of ancient marl pits, though the practice of marling is now almost forgot- 

 ten by the inhabitants. Derbyshire Report, vol. i. p. 148, 456; and vol. ii. 

 p. 4O7. Surface-draining, properly conducted, might restore to these lands, 

 their former capability of profiting from the treasure of red marl existing be- 

 low them. As burnt clay is attended with such beneficial effects, burning rock, 

 slate, or clay marl, would be still more beneficial, and has been partially tried 

 in Lancashire. 



233 North Riding Report, p. 238 ; East Riding Report, p. 55. 



234 Near Falmouth, 50 in 100 parts of the article consist of broken coral ; 

 but in Cornwall, from 70 to 80 parts in 100 consist of broken shells. The 

 farmers prefer taking it as near low- water mark as possible. They thus obtain 

 a small quantity of saline matter, (perhaps from 3 to 4 or 5 Ibs.), but the ad- 

 vantages of this calcareous substance as a manure are, that it thickens, or 

 deepens the staple of the soil ; that some parts of the calcareous matter, 

 where it is required, enter into the composition of the plant ; that it loosens 

 the earth, and rendering the soil more friable, enables the plant to take a 

 greater range in quest of food ; and that being an absorbent of acids, it is a 

 corrector of the soil. Communication from the Rev* Robert Hoblyn. 



