336 DETAILS OP OPERATIONS. 



appliances and more experience, or with sucli improvements of 

 operations as I have since introduced. 



The distances from the pit were accurately measured; except 

 for inconsiderable and daily variations from, or extensions of known 

 distances, which were estimated by the less exact measure of my 

 stepping. For every new route, and every considerable alteration, 

 the measuring tape was used. The contents of the cart-bodies were 

 ascertained both by cubic measurement and by the heaped half- 

 bushels of marl which could be put in. After enough of such trials 

 had been made for fixing an average, each cart-load, accord- 

 ing to its being filled even, or slightly heaped, or fully heaped 

 (which variations might be required by different conditions of 

 teams, marl, or roads), was respectively taken as the measure of a 

 stated number of bushels. 



Single mule carts were used this year, which was one of the 

 errors afterwards abandoned. The loads of the one mule whose 

 work will be separately stated, was at first made 8 heaped bushelsj 

 afterwards increased to 8 J. Her driver was a boy of 15 years old. 

 Two other mules which were generally but not regularly hauling 

 marl during the same time, were driven, one by a boy, and the 

 other by a girl, neither driver exceeding 13 years old. Tasks were 

 assigned to each mule cart. Marling is the only kind of farm 

 labour that I ever could have performed advantageously by task- 

 work. For this, tasks were found very advantageous; and no 

 other work which has been under my direction has been executed 

 so faithfully, or with so little superintendence or difficulty. Tnis 

 peculiar adaptation to task-work is owing to the uniformity of the 

 labours, when conducted on a regular plan of operations. 



The marl was very generally free from all extraneous water. 

 Though moist in its bed, and when dug, it is as little so as any 

 highly absorbent earth could be, if in like manner covered by wet 

 and water-soaked clay. The marl, just after being dug, weighs 105 

 Ibs. to the heaped bushel. If allowed to become wetter, its weight 

 is much increased. I found, by trial, that a bushel of this marl, 

 as moist as when dug, would absorb two gallons more of water (16 

 Ibs.), without being so surcharged that any would drip away. Yet 

 many of those persons who work marl having springs oozing out 

 above, allow so much water to have access, as to add much more 

 than 16 Ibs. to the weight of the bushel of marl, and to increase 

 the labours of shovelling and loading in still greater proportion. 



The degree of inclination of the surface of the land on which 

 marl is carted, and its being rough or smooth, soft or firm, all have 

 important influence on the labour of marling. The land to which 

 mine was then applied, as well as all over which the routes passed, 

 was part of the broad flats bordering on the Parnunkey. The very 

 gradual ascent from the margin of the pit (where the marl was 



