398 FALUNAGE IN FRANCE. 



places. These deposits are one of our mineral treasures, from -which we 

 are far from deriving proper advantages. For if using the falun at the 

 rate of 100 hectolitres to the hectare, as in England, it might be trans- 

 ported to a distance, either by water or land carriage. And what further 

 recommends its use, at least as much, the falun is not accused of having 

 impoverished the soil. On the contrary it is found everywhere improved."* 

 Annales d* Agriculture Fran$aise, 1835. 



The next passages are translated extracts of the article " Falun" 

 in the " Gours Complet," &c., which is a joint contribution by 

 Kozier and Cadet-de-Vaux. 



44. " This name is given "to a great body of marine remains which 

 exist in Touraine, over an extent of about three leagues in length, and of 

 less breadth. Neither the exact limits nor the depth of this bed is known. 

 The excavations have not been sunk lower than 20 feet, because of the. 

 water which oozes from all sides into these falunieres. What a deposit ! 

 What immense quantity of shells ! We may also add, what a treasure ! For 

 these spoils of the ocean are an excellent improver of soil. 



We will then merely consider the falun as an improver. 



After being extracted from the pit, suffered to drain and become dry, it is 

 spread on the fields the same as marl ; and the proportion varies according 

 to the quality of the lands on which it is spread in the same manner as 

 of marl. 



"Here is the difference which exists between these two improvers : Marl 

 is a calcareous earth, of the same nature as the falun, but it is mixed with 

 sand and argil ; so that the first thing to do when one marls a field is to 

 know well the [degree of purity of the] marl. This knowledge is easy to 

 acquire by the most simple analysis. ..,,... 



. . . . The falun is pure calcareous earth ; but which contains more 

 or less of the principles which were united to the calcareous earth in the 

 formation of the shells. Unless constantly soaked in water, it may not 

 have lost these principles. Then the falun can no longer be considered as 



a pure calcareous earth, and destined to act only mechanically 



We will observe that the falun has, in common with marl, no influence on 

 the fertility of the field which receives it until the second year ; and the 

 effects of both these earths become enfeebled at length ; when it is neces- 

 sary to apply them again." 



I have omitted of the last article as much as could be separated 

 of the superfluous, useless, and mistaken statements and there is 

 not much else. But all is left that refers to what I designed to 

 show, i. e., that the authors had no thought that the falun was 

 marl. 



This last description of the falun of Touraine goes to show that 

 the mass was of shells or their fragments alone, or without the 



* This ground of superior value assumed for the falun, I take as indirect 

 evidence, in addition to the author's direct assertion, that this kind of 

 manure has been but little used, or that little is known of the effects. The 

 use of calcareous manures in Europe has been almost entirely empirical, 

 and not directed by any theory, or rational rules. Hence damage has often 

 been done by improper applications of both lime and marl ; and if the falun 

 has been harmless, rich and abundant as it is, and easy to apply, it must 

 be because of its very limited use. E. R. 



