PROPER PROCEDURE FOR MARLING. 803^ 



pact as made by its own pressure and the travel, are equal to 8.03 

 (say 8) even bushels, in the same state of compactness ; and may 

 be taken as equal to the same, number (8) of heaped bushels, loose 

 as when dug. 



In marls of equal degrees of moisture, the weight will be greater 

 in proportion to the quantity of silicious sand in each; and, in a 

 less degree, also to the soundness and compactness of any shells 

 contained. In marls similar in these respects, of course the weight 

 will be in proportion to the wetness. The lightest marl I ever 

 worked, which was as dry as any earth could naturally be, did not 

 weigh less than 100 Ibs. to the heaped bushel. 



Some or all the foregoing suggestions of facilities and expedients, 

 or perhaps some better plans, might perhaps occur to most persons 

 before they are long engaged in marling. Still these directions 

 may help to smooth away some of the obstructions in the way of 

 the inexperienced; and they will not be entirely useless, if they 

 can serve to prevent even small losses of time and labour. 



It is impossible to carry on marling to advantage, or with any- 

 thing like economy, unless it is made a regular business, to be con- 

 tinued throughout the year, or a specified portion of it, by a labour- 

 ing force devoted to that purpose, and not allowed to be withdrawn 

 for any other. Instead of proceeding on this plan, most persons 

 who have begun to marl, attempt it in the short intervals of leisure 

 afforded between their different farming operations and without 

 lessening, for this purpose, the extent of their usual cultivation. 

 Let us suppose that preparations have been made for such an at- 

 tempt, and on the first opportunity, a farmer commences marling 

 with zeal and spirit. Every new labour, however, is attended by 

 causes of difficulty and delay ; and a full share of these will be 

 found in the first few days of marling. The road is soft for want 

 of previous use, and, if the least wet, soon becomes miry. The 

 horses, unaccustomed to carting, balk at the hills, or carry only half 

 loads. Other difficulties occur from the awkwardness of the labour- 

 ers, and the inexperience of their master and still more from the 

 usual unwillingness of the overseer to devote any labour to improve- 

 ments which are not expected to add to the crop of that year. 

 Before matters can get straight, the leisure time is at an end. The 

 work is stopped, and the road and pit are left to get out of order, 

 before making another attempt some six months after, when all the 

 same vexatious difficulties are again to be encountered. It is there- 

 fore not at all surprising that many zealous beginners have been 

 discouraged by the bad management of their first operations ; and 

 have abandoned all effort to marl, until after years of delay, and 

 when again induced to resume, by the success and profit of others 

 who had not limited their marling labours to leisure times only. 



If one horse or mule ? only, is employed in drawing marl through- 



