EARLIEST TRIALS OF MARL IN VIRGINIA. 115 



better than that of the adjacent land. Mr. Francis Ruffin, the 

 present owner of the farm, believed that the product was not much 

 increased in favourable seasons j but when the other land suffered 

 either from too much wet or dry weather, the crop on the marled 

 land was comparatively but slightly injured. The loose reports 

 that have been obtained respecting this experiment are at least 

 conclusive in showing the long duration of the effects produced. 



The other old experiment referred to was made at Aberdeen, 

 Prince George county, in 1803, by Mr. Thomas Cocke. Three 

 small spots (neither exceeding thirty yards square) of poor land, 

 kept before and since generally under exhausting culture, were 

 covered with this manure. He found a very inconsiderable early 

 improvement, which he thought altogether an inadequate reward 

 for the labour of applying the marl. The experiment, being 

 deemed of no value, was but little noticed until after the com- 

 mencement of my use of the same manure. On examination, the 

 improvement appeared to have increased greatly on two of the 

 pieces, but the third was evidently the worse for the application. 

 For a number of years after making this experiment, Mr. Cocke 

 had considered it as giving full proof of the worthlessness of the 

 manure. But more correct views of its mode of operation, caused 

 by my experiments and reasoning, induced him to recommence its 

 use ; and no one has met with more success, or produced more 

 valuable early improvement. 



Inexperience, and the total want of any practical guide, caused 

 my applications, for the first few years, to be frequently injudicious, 

 particularly as to the quantities laid on. For this reason, these 

 experiments will show what was actually done, and the effects 

 thence derived, and not what better information would have directed 

 as the most profitable course. 



The measurements of corn that will be reported were all made 

 at the time and place of gathering. The measure used for all ex- 

 cept very small quantities was a barrel, holding five bushels when 

 filled level, and which being filled twice with ears of com, well 

 shaken to settle them, and heaped, was estimated to make five 

 bushels of grain ; and the products will be reported in grain, ac- 

 cording to this estimate. This mode of measurement will best 

 serve for comparing results; but in most cases it is far from giving 

 correctly the actual quantity of dry and sound grain, for the fol- 

 lowing reasons. The common large soft-grained white corn was 

 the kind cultivated, which was always cut down for sowing wheat 

 before the best matured was dry enough to grind, or even to be 

 stored in the ear for keeping ; and when the ears from the poorest 

 land were in a state to lose considerably more by shrinking. . Yet, 

 for fear of some mistake, or mixture of the different quantities, 

 occurring if measurements were delayed until the crop was gathered, 



