PREFACE. Vll 



rich enough to permit of transportation to neighboring coun- 

 ties. 



In order to increase their value, I have been led to enter- 

 tain the opinion, that they may be washed. In this opera- 

 tion the sand may be separated from the valuable parts. This 

 opinion, however, requires a confirmation by experiment. 

 The material which remains after the sand is separated, con- 

 tains phosphate of lime, carbonate of lime and magnesia, pot- 

 ash and soda ; those elements which make the marl the most 

 valuable. If any cheap process for washing the marls could 

 be employed, the material could be transported to most of the 

 midland counties with profit. 



The cultivation of the grasses to a much greater extent than 

 has hitherto been done in this State, has seemed to me very 

 desirable. I have given considerable attention to the subject, 

 and for the purpose of aiding, as far as possible, a measure of 

 this kind, I have selected several of the most valuable for de- 

 scription, that information respecting their value, may be 

 more widely spread. I am confident that many of them will 

 succeed. Very few efforts have hitherto been made for their 

 cultivation, most planters entertaining the belief that it is 

 impracticable, or else the labors of the plantation are supposed 

 to be much more profitably directed to the raising of cotton. 

 Under the present system of curing the grasses for winter fod- 

 der, the labor is so much cheapened that it seems to me that 

 the raising of cotton or any other of the great staples, will not 

 interfere with the project of keeping more stock, and in a 

 better condition than has hitherto been attempted in the State, 



In connexion with the marls of the eastern counties, I have 

 given a brief sketch of the fossils of the different kinds of beds. 

 Those who will take, the trouble to examine the figures of the 

 fossils which belong to the different beds, will not fail to per- 

 ceive the striking differences which prevail. It is, for instance. 



