298 DROPPING AND SPREADING MARt. 



for two mules on level land and firm roads) by heaping. Two 

 mules together will draw this load, or about 1900 Ibs. ; or one 

 mule, in a light cart, 9 bushels, as easily as the latter will draw 5 

 bushels on hilly land. But on hilly land, two-mule carts cannot 

 well be used. For when drawing up a hill, if one mule ceases to 

 pull for ever so short a time, the whole load, and a doubled labour, 

 is put upon the other mule, which is thus over-strained, and taught 

 to balk, if not otherwise damaged. 



Strong labourers are required for digging and shovelling marl. 

 Boys of 12 to 14 years old may drive single-mule carts. The 

 animals kept regularly at such hauling soon become so gentle and 

 tractable, that very little skill or strength is required in the driver. 

 But for a two-mule cart, an active and careful young man should 

 drive, because his strength is required at some times, and his judg- 

 ment and care always to load properly, and to make the mules draw 

 equally. 



One of the most general and injurious errors in marling, is the 

 unequal and irregular spreading of the marl on the land. From 

 this cause it often happens that there is too much and too little 

 marl applied to the same quarter-acre; and sorrel still remaining 

 and growing, and tc marl-burnt" corn, may be seen not many yards 

 apart. The only effectual means which I have found to attain any- 

 thing like equal distribution, has been to measure by stepping, and 

 marking with a hoe, each distance for a heap to be dropped. This 

 has been done by myself for much the greater quantity of all the 

 marl I have had carried out ; as I never could have the measuring 

 and marking of distances done with sufficient accuracy by the dri- 

 vers. If the field had been left in beds, or the rows of the last pre- 

 vious ploughing are visible, it will much facilitate the marking. 

 Otherwise, rows must be marked by the plough in one direction, 

 or measuring poles must be set up at each extremity of the rows 

 for marl, to mark the cross-distance as well as to guide the direction 

 of the rows. The thus placing the heaps at regular or average 

 distances is the best security for regular distribution of the marl 

 in spreading. But, nevertheless, the latter operation ought to be 

 carefully watched, and made as uniform as will serve for thorough 

 and equal diffusion through the soil, with the subsequent aid in 

 tillage, of ploughing and harrowing. 



Some extensive marlers, before commencing on a field, have it 

 marked off by a plough for the placing of the heaps of rnarL If 

 the land is in beds, cross-furrows only are needed. If the surface 

 is smooth, it must also be marked-at right-angles. In either case, 

 the field is thus marked off into rectangular spaces, in each of which 

 a heap of marl is dropped, and over the whole of which space it is 

 afterwards to be spread. But I found this mode more objection- 

 able than the former. The drivers have so much latitude, that 



