SUMMER AND WINTER MARLING. 341 



Small as is this cost for a durable manuring, it far exceeds what 

 would be required on most farms possessing marl-beds. In many 

 localities in Virginia marl may be uncovered, excavated, and car- 

 ried to the field for one-half of my expenses for the same; and in 

 some cases in Virginia, and in numerous situations in South Caro- 

 lina, the necessary expenses would scarcely be more than a fourth 

 of mine. The spreading is not included in this comparison, as its 

 cost has no relation to the greater or less cost of the other labours. 

 The obstacles to my operations were unusually great in the soft 

 and adhesive overlying clay the numerous small springs necessary 

 to be diverted the liability of the loose sand above to be washed 

 down by rains the low level of the marl compared to the sur- 

 rounding land and the great distance from the pit to the field. 

 But whether the difficulties of other marlings be greater or less than 

 mine, their costs may be estimated by my rules and prices, with 

 due regard paid to difference of circumstances. Before, however, 

 making such application, regard should be paid to the improved 

 processes and reductions of expense in my subsequent operations, 

 which will presently be stated. 



It may, perhaps, be objected to the foregoing statements and 

 estimates, that the work was done in the long days of summer, and 

 in dry weather, when there would be the least obstruction to, or 

 loss of labour from bad weather and bad roads. And I will admit 

 further, that the expense incurred was not increased by sickness of 

 any one of the regular marling hands, nor by any other important 

 loss in labour or materials. All these would be good grounds for 

 objection, if no allowances had been made for average losses on 

 these scores. But, in the general estimates of the cost of labour, 

 there were made the ample allowances of 30 days' labour of the 

 year lost on the average by each man and boy, by bad weather, 

 sickness, and half holidays (besides the 58 of Sundays and regular 

 holidays), and 40 days for each mule; and also enough for wear 

 and breakage of carts and utensils. Therefore the proper propor- 

 tion of these losses is in fact fully charged in the estimate, though 

 scarcely any of such losses occurred. 



It is true that winter marling would be much more costly, owing 

 to the then generally muddy or slightly frozen and rough roads. 

 And therefore during that season, and when the earth is wet and 

 soft, it will be generally better to suspend marling labours, if the 

 teams can be employed at other, easier, and as necessary work. My 

 marling, however, was not thus suspended. For the extra expense 

 of the more disadvantageous and costly winter marling was deemed 

 of less amount than would be lost in the difference of productive 

 value of land marled, and the same if left unmarled. Thus it is 

 cheaper to pay $4 an acre, for marling a field before taking its crop 

 from it for that year, than to take the crop first, and afterwards 

 29* 



