112 A PRACTICAL TREATISE 



thoroiif^hly amalgfamated with the soil by the tillage of a sum- 

 mer tallow. If, however, it be only applied during the spring- 

 months, this cannot be so properly carried into execution, for 

 it requires the winter's rain and frost to crumble it, and it con- 

 sequently has but little power upon the year's crop. A com- 

 plete summer fallow is, undoubtedly, the best mode of bringing 

 it into perfect operation : but not only is the expense often 

 objected to, but there is also a strong prejudice entertained by 

 many persons against fallowing — into which it is not our pre- 

 sent object to inquire, although we necessarily shall have occa- 

 sion to notice it hereafter. 



It is almost superfluous to add, that, in whatever manner it 

 be applied, it must be equally spread over the land ; and if 

 there should be any large lumps remaining, these should be 

 broken with mallets, or clotting-beetles, in the same manner 

 as chalk, before it is ploughed in. This, however, is not usually 

 done until the marl has partaken of both one summer's sun and 

 one winter's frost ; and should the previous season have proved 

 unfavourable to the reduction of the marl to small particles, the 

 process, in some cases, costs so much, that, when laid upon grass 

 or clover, it is often found more advisable to leave the ground 

 unbroken during another year. Then, when well crumbled, 

 dry weather should be chosen for rolling and harrowing it — a 

 first time with heavy rollers and drags, and a second after it 

 has been exposed to rain, and has been again dried : in short, 

 until it has been rendered as small as possible; after which it 

 should be lightly ploughed in, again harrowed, and receive 

 from two to four ploughings, according to the condition of the 

 soil. The intermixture of the marl with the earth cannot, in 

 fact, be too complete ; for whatever proportion remains uncom- 

 bined with the soil, will not alone fail of producing tiie intended 

 etlect, but will have one of an opposite and prejudicial tendency. 



The quantity of marl wiiich it may be prudent to apply to 

 the land depends entirely on the nature of the soil, and the 

 properties of the marl : the more calcareous is the latter, the 

 greater is the effect which it will produce, as a stimulant; and 

 shell-marl possesses, besides, the additional power of nourish- 

 ing tiie soil by the vegetable and animal mould with which it 

 is combined. This species was formerly profusely used on 

 every sort of ground, but at present the average amount 

 applied to land of the medium kind is from 30 to 40, or, if it 

 be very light, only 25 cart-loads, of 16 cubic feet per acre. 

 Land ol"the latter quality may, indeed, be readily over-marled; 



