MARLING IN ENGLAND. Ill 



sense in which that term is used among us) but under a different 

 head, viz., lime. This manure is generally treated of with as little 



500 bushels to the acre and more generally between 200 and 300. In 

 England, (even where we know that the manure is truly marl, or is calca- 

 reous), the quantities applied are enormous, and must act mechanically for 

 much the greater part, even if acting chemically at all. For there can 

 be no chemical action, if the soil was calcareous in the slightest degree 

 before the application. The expense there is great, because of the heavy 

 applications ; and liming, though that also is there very much heavier and 

 therefore more expensive than with us, is always deemed cheaper labour, 

 and is substituted for marling whenever water-borne lime can be obtained. 

 The case here is reversed marling being always much cheaper than the 

 cheapest liming, if the marl is dug on or near to the farm to which it is 

 applied. 



I will cite a few facts and authorities to show the enormous quantities 

 in which marl is applied in Britain. Arthur Young (in his Farmer's 

 Calendar, 10th London collection, p. 40), describes and commends the 

 labours of Mr. Rodwell, who put 140,000 loads of marl (effervescing with 

 acids), to 120 acres of leased land, with great profit. The size of the load 

 not stated. But if 20 bushels, this would be (171 loads of 20 bush.) 3420 

 bushels to the acre. Sir John Sinclair says the red marl (which is calca- 

 reous, certainly, as I learn from the Agricultural Report of Lancashire) 

 is the great source of fertilization in Lancashire and Chesliire. " The 

 quantity used is enormous ; in many cases 300 middling cart-loads to the 

 acre, and the fields are sometimes so thickly covered as to have the ap- 

 pearance of a red-soiled fallow, fresh ploughed." (Code of Agriculture.) 

 Counting these loads at 20 bushels, makes 6000 bushels to the acre. The 

 Lancashire Report, made by order of the Boai'd of Agriculture, says that 

 the carts for marling are usually drawn by 3 horses, and carry about 15 

 cwt. (1680 Ibs.) This is a very light load, for short distances and level 

 ground. This Report gives sundry facts concurring with the foregoing. 

 A few only will be here quoted. " The quantity [of marl] laid on is from 

 2 to 3 cubic roods of 64 [cubic] yards to the statute acre; the expense 

 of which is, according to the distance carried, if within CO rods [330 

 yards] on the average, about 8 [or nearly $40] the acre." "A cubic 

 rood of marl, of 64 [cubic] yards to the rood, adds nearly half an inch to 

 the staple of the soil to a statute acre of land." Consequently, the usual 

 dressing, of 2 to 3 such "cubic" roods, must give a coat of from nearly 

 1 inch to nearly If inches to the soil. A particular piece of 9 acres of "a 

 wretched black sandy waste" (which however was bought for 33 Qs. Sd. 

 per acre), was afterwards marled " at nearly 12 roods, of 64 cubic yards 

 to the acre of 8 rods." [This is a provincial measure, equal to 2 acres, and 

 18 perches, statute measure.] This was equal to 20,730 cubic feet to the 

 [large] acre and more than as many heaped bushels, if the cubic measure 

 of the marl was made in its bed. The cost of this marling was 27 15s. 

 Gd. per [large] acre [or about $135, or not quite half this quantity and 

 price, per statute acre]. In this same report, particular estimates are 

 made of the expenses of marling, at stated rates and distances, which of 

 course we must suppose ordinary cases. 1. A field of 30 rods square 

 (about 6 statute acres), marled from a pit in the centre, at 6 cubic roods, 

 would cost for cartage per rood, 18s., or 32 Ss. for the 6 acres. 2. If a like 

 square, adjoining the first, be marled from the same pit, the previous 

 average distance of 15 rods will be increased by 30, or to 45 rods ( X 5 J 

 yards = 247 yds.), the increased expense will be 12s. the acre, or .54 iu. 



