104: NORTH-CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 



of very poor land that has been lying in that condition since the first of 

 the year 1854. It was designed as an experiment. The groM 7 th on it when 

 it was marled was altogether broom straw ; there is now mixed with that 

 growth some briars, dog fennel, and other weeds. I have consequently in- 

 ferred there was some improvement, but whether it is as great as on land 

 that was marled and cultivated I shall not know until I cultivate it. 



The land I have marled and cultivated has very considerably improved. 

 My whole crop has very nearly doubled, notwithstanding one-fifth of the 

 land I crop on is yet unmarled. 



I cultivated the land every other year in corn, and it rested the other, 

 and not pastured. Last year I sowed peas on a portion of the rested land; 

 what will be the result I am now unable to say. I have used plaster on 

 the marled land, and have not seen any beneficial effect. 



I fear I am trespassing too much on your time ; I will, however, say a 

 few words on my experience of the effects of liming on the health of the 

 place. Before marl was used on this plantation it was uncommonly sickly, 

 so much so that I was compelled to carry my family away every fall 

 Scarcely a person, white or black, escaped the ague and fever, if he had no 

 more. All the land around the house has been marled, and the yard, under 

 the houses^ under and around the negro houses, I keep freshly marled 

 every summer. Last summer I made my servants use it, as our grand 

 mothers used to use sand, inside of the houses. Whether it is owing to 

 this, or to a ditch I have had cut through the yard, or whether it is an ac- 

 cidental occurrence I can't say, but fall before last there was not a chill on 

 the premises, and last fall there was but one case. 



I will trouble you with one more result: These premises were infested 

 with ants and fleas, now such animals are hardly known here. 



W. B. WADSWORTH. 

 i 



75. In a subsequent letter Mr. Wadsworth's remarks go 

 to confirm his previously expressed opinions, but that the 

 reader may be benefitted by Mr. "WVs experience, I subjoin 

 his remarks in his own language : 



CRAVEN COUNTY, N. C., (NEAR NEWBERNE, ) 

 October 12th, 1857. f 



PROF. E. EMMONS Dear Sir: The fever for marling is spreading in 

 this part of our county and a good deal of land will be limed this winter. 

 I have given some of mine an over dose with only one hundered bushels. 

 Last fall and winter I used only seventy five and now I am putting on 

 fifty. My experence so far has taught me to begin with a very limited 

 quantity and to add to it as the land improves. Where I have not burned 

 my land the improvement is very satisfactory. 



