ACTUAL RESULTS ON COGGINS FARM. 183 



wherever dressed with marl, and even without the further help of 

 barn-yard manure, are now nearly all skinned over by a newly 

 formed soil ; and though such soil is still both poor and thin, and 

 may yet long remain so, the whole of its present productive power 

 is due to marling } as such galled land was before naked, entirely 

 barren, and irreclaimable by other manures. "Where much or rich 

 putrescent matter has been also applied to galls, with or after marl, 

 both rich and durable soil has been formed, though at great cost. 



The more level parts of the old and greatly exhausted fields, and 

 the newly cleared wood-land (both kinds being naturally poor, thin, 

 and acid soils), are the only lands which have enjoyed anything 

 like the full beneficial effects of marling. These have been in- 

 creased in product from 5 and 10 bushels of corn per acre (which 

 may be considered the usual minimum and maximum rates), to at 

 least 20, and in some cases to 30 bushels, even without the aid of 

 barn-yard manure. Where putrescent manures have been also 

 applied, they have raised the products much higher ; and these 

 manures are now as durable and as profitable as formerly they were 

 fleeting and profitless in effect. 



The before poor and light soil which formed the greater part of 

 the old arable lands, and which was not above three inches in depth 

 (and scarcely two inches when in its natural forest state), is now 

 seven inches or more, and requires three-horse ploughs to break it 

 to proper depth, where the one-horse ploughs formerly would fre- 

 quently reach and bring up the barren sub-soil. 



The fertilizing operation of marl has increased with time, even 

 where the effects were also the most speedy, and most profitable on 

 the first crop after the application. 



The soil, which before was totally unable to support red clover, 

 is now (except on the most sandy spots) well adapted to the growth, 

 and capable, according to the grade of fertility, of receiving the 

 great benefit which is offered by that most valuable of improving 

 crops. 



And generally notwithstanding all the many and great errors 

 committed in my marling (for want of experience), and of still worse 

 general farm management and though a considerable proportion 

 of the old land was either but little or not at all fit to be improved 

 by marling and though the land added since by new clearings was 

 all very poor, and worthless for its natural producing power still, 

 the general annual grain products of the farm have been increased 

 from three to four-fold, and the net profit of cultivation and the 

 intrinsic value of the land have been increased in a still greater 

 proportion. [1842.] 



