468 GREEN-SAND OF NEW JERSEY. 



my experiments of the green earth as manure, there had been per- 

 fect agreement in some respects. Thus, as before stated generally, 

 the earth has never been beneficial as manure on acid soil but 

 rarely on corn, and never (directly) on wheat ; and (on proper soils) 

 generally and greatly beneficial on clover, and perhaps all plants 

 of the clover and pea tribe and the effects, when produced, have 

 never been permanent, nor even very durable. And the effects 

 shown in these points of agreement were nearly all the reverse of 

 those ascribed to the New Jersey green-sand. In regard to these 

 effects, in the absence of all certain and particular information to 

 be obtained otherwise, I found it necessary to seek information in 

 person. The results of my inquiries and personal examinations, in 

 general, showed that the green-sand (called marl) of New Jersey, 

 though agreeing in some respects with ours in action as manure, is 

 operative generally on the greater number of soils and on most 

 crops, and is also very durable in effect. On the other hand, much 

 larger quantities are applied there (usually 200 bushels, and some- 

 times 400, or more, to the acre) than I have done with ours ; and 

 something of the more general benefit and longer duration may 

 perhaps be owing to that circumstance.* Whether the green-sand 

 is indeed the principal, or a very important manuring agent, of the 

 James river earth, or whether the other ingredients may not be 

 still more active than its green-sand, is yet undecided. f 



It is indeed strange that such doubts should exist at this late 

 day as to the manuring action and effect of this earth and still 

 more so that the chemical composition and ingredients of the 

 earth should not have been long ago ascertained. Yet previous to 

 the recent imperfect application of tests above referred to, there 

 had been no known full or correct chemical analysis made of the 

 earth in question ; nor even any partial examination for and report 

 of -the ingredients, that was entitled to any respect for accuracy 

 and fidelity. For these reasons I engaged the services of Professor 

 C. U. Shepard, for the analyses of specimens which I selected from 

 the different strata of the earth, at Coggins Point, exposed in re- 

 cent diggings, including several which had been tried as manure, 

 find had operated with remarkable power and benefit. His report 

 of the partial analyses, which has been received since the preceding 

 and subsequent portions of this article were written, will now be 



* See report at length on the New Jersey green-sand, and its operation, 

 at page 418, vol. x., Farmers' llegister. This deposit is of secondary for- 

 mation, while that of Virginia is of the tertiary. This difference of age and 

 probably of the materials of the formation would seem to indicate a differ- 

 ence of chemical constitution as there certainly is of manuring operation. 



f [I have lately heard that phosphate of lime had been discovered as an 

 ordinary accompaniment of the green-sand of New Jersey, in the clay 

 which is a regularly existing ingredient. I do not know what reliance may 

 be placed on this report. 1851.] 



