PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. 197 



because it embodied a great deal of valuable information to the public. 

 Some members were a little surprised at the statement touching the infer- 

 tility of muck, though all were conversant with the virtues of Squankum 

 marL 



Dr. TrinUile expressed his surprise that this valuable fertilizer was tiot 

 used outside the State of New Jersey. 



Mr. John G. Berp^en.— We have a gentleman with us this morning who 

 lias had some experience in the use of Jersey marl. I would therefore call 

 upon Mr. Townsen<l to give us^some information upon the subject, 



Mr. B. S. Townsend, Bayridge, Long Island, said he had obtained two 

 sloop loads for the purpose of experimenting upon its value upon his farm 

 on the west end of Long- Island. His investigations have shown him that 

 there is great difference in the value of gn^eji sand nuirl from difierent 

 localities, and even from the same locality. One load that he obtained is 

 of a light green and the other of a dark greeo color, Mt:ch of the marl 

 found under the soil of farms in Monmouth county is of such low raanurial 

 value that it will not bear transportation beyond the limits of the farm. 

 That which he obtained from Squankum cost him II cents per bushel deli- 

 vered at the wharf, to which the cost of cartage to the farm must be added. 

 He finds that it averag^es about twenty bushels to the ton, which will make 

 the cartage very expensive if hauled any considerable distance. He tiiinks 

 one of the good qualities of the m.arl upon the sandy soil of Long Island is 

 that it helps to retain rooi.sture. 



One of the experiments which he tried this season was upon a crop of 

 turnips, one-half of whicli was dressed with stable manure, and tlic other 

 with an equal value of marl. Tiie marl portion was the best from the start, 

 and it was estimated that the product was 33 per cent heavier than the 

 manured portion. He did net obtain his supply early enough in the season 

 for general crops, because the orders of New Jersey farmers were so large 

 that they were unable to fill them as fast as required. Mr, Townsend tried 

 another experiment upon grass to test the value of the light and dark- 

 colured marls, the dark being ceusidei-ed the itKj.st valuable. He dressed a 

 piece of grass heavily, and found th<it instead of being a protection against 

 drouth that the park marled suffered more severely than the undressed 

 portion, acd the grass was the worst killed upon the part dressed with the 

 iiglit green mad. No good efiect is visible upon the grass this first year. 



Dr. Trimble iusistod that where marl had been long used it does prove 

 •an advaut-age in time of drouth. He said Professor Rogers had proved by 

 -analysis of tnarl that it contained the constituents of ashes of straw. 



Mr. E. Wilbiams said that he had found a great difference in the quality 

 •of marl, and that that whicii contained most clay was the best upon sandy 

 soil, showing that it has a mechanical as well as chemical action. 



Mr, Jolm G, Bergen. — I am very glad to hear friin Mr. Townsend's state- 

 ment tliat Jersey marl is likely to prove successfid upon Long Island. We 

 certainly need some cheap fertilizer • and as geologists say that New Jer- 

 sey IS gradually subsiding, I think that we ought to hurry to get all that 

 there is valuable out of it before it goes under the sea again. I know 

 ■several of Mr. Townsend's neighbors who have tried the green sand marl 

 and find it did not pay cost. I have seen a great deal of its beneficial 



