70 FALLOWING. 



wliere it U. Marls have been known to fertilize all 

 kinJs of soil, but light sandy ones more than any other. 

 It can be di.itin^uished from clay, which is the onl}'^ sub- 

 stance it is likely to be mistaken for, by its effervesing 

 with acids; if any of the mineral acids, or even strong 

 vinegar, be dropped upon the surface of the marl, it will 

 produce an immediate effervesence, or in other words 

 tne drop v/ill assume the appearance of boiling ; this 

 will not be the case with clay. A more simple 

 mode may be adopted where no acid is at hand ; take a 

 lump the size of an ounce ball aodwhen it is well dried, 

 drop it into a tumbler of clear water ; if it be marl it 

 will immediately crumble into a fine soft paste in the 

 bottom of the glass, giving off innumerable tine air bub- 

 bles which rise to the surface in rapid sucession ; if 

 clay it will not be much changed by the water. Marl 

 should be placed upon the land late in the fall, and left 

 in small heaps to be pulverised by the frosts, &.C. and 

 late in the spring spread equalh'^ over the surface. If 

 applied in sufficient quantity, its effects will be as per- 

 ceptible as that produced by the most judicious applica- 

 tion of gypsum. 



Peat^ is often found in low miry and boggy places, that 

 lie between hills, and is sometimes found in cold hilly 

 tracts. That which is the most solid, is the most valu- 

 able. It sometimes forms, and in other places is very 

 near the surface ; and sometimes 8 or 10 feet below it. 

 It is known by cutting smooth like butter, being free 

 from grit, and burning when dried. After long exposure 

 to the air, it becomes hard, like a cinder. When put in 

 composts, in which lime is an ingredient, it is converted 

 into a substance, similar to the black dirt of bog-mea- 

 dows. Until lately, it has been the practice to burn 

 peat earth, and use the ashes for top-dressings ; (which 

 are supposed to be much stronger than wood ashes ;) but 

 we believe this practice in Europe has mostly given 

 way to that of rotting peat in compost. One ton of 

 dung will ferment three tons of peat or mo«;s earth. — 

 This, it is observed in the Code of Agriculture^ is a most 

 valuable discovery. 



Mud, taken from swamps, ponds, ditches, rivers, and 

 the sea, becomes excellent manure, consisting of pnlri- 

 fied animal and vegetable bodies mixed with the rich 



