11279. 280] MARLS OP WARREN. IG7 



VICKSBURG MARL. 



Coarse Sand 3 700 



Clay and fine Sand 17.267 



Potash 0.758 



Soda 0.283 



Lime 37.543 



Magnesia 2 083 



Peroxide of Iron, and Alumina 4.7^2 



Phosphoric Acid 0.135 



Carbonic Acid (and Less) 20 8:58 



Water 2.657 



100.000 



The % per cent, of Potash which this analysis shows, arc present chiefly in 

 the shape of greensand grains. It contains, also, a variable amount of iron 

 pyrites in minute crystals, for which reason it would be advisable to expose the 

 marl to the action of the air for some time before plowing it under, whereby a 

 certain amount of Sulphuric Acid will be added to the above ingredients. 

 Judging by its aspect and fossils, this marl represents correctly that of numerous 

 other localities, and will be found a highly efficacious manure for almost any 

 soil. Its low percentage of inert ingredients renders it suitable for transporta- 

 tion, inasmuch as but a small dressing will be required of this, in comparison 

 with other marls, in order to secure a fine effect. On light sandy soils, especially 

 when poor in vegetable matter, 250 to 300 bushels of this marl par acre are as 

 much, probably, as could be used without fear of overdressing. Being, to a 

 considerable extent, however, a true manure and not a mere stimulant, much 

 smaller dressings will be found beneficial. 



279. Most of the marls found in the ravines of the Waluut Hills 

 in Warren county, are probably similar to that of Vicksburg ; as 

 a general tiling, it appears that those occurring highest up are more 

 sandy than those from the lower portion of the stratum, and hence, 

 heavier dressings of these would be required. The shell marl 

 cropping out at Amsterdam, on the Big Black River ; that overlying 

 the ledge of rock from beneath which, at Brownsville, Hinds 

 county, the spring issues : the marl found on Jackson's Creek, S. 

 11, T. 5, R. 4 W., that at Stewart's quarry, and the upper strata at 

 Marshall's quarry, are examples. It is probable that in all these 

 localities, a richer marl could be found at a lower level, in deep 

 ravines or on the banks of the creeks ; and exposures of these 

 materials may be looked for, more or less, on the whole territory 

 colored bluish-gray on the map. Their great efficiency i.i the im- 

 provement ol the soils of this region, has been shown by an expcii- 

 ment made by Mr. Marshall, who has dressedja portion of his land 

 with a mixture of (lie (rather inferior) marl occurring be:weenthe 

 ledges of stone at his quarry, and ofiall from his lime-kiln. 



The blue limestone at Vicksburg would also, when burnt, form 

 a valuable manure (1UU5). 



28U. A marl greatly resembling that at Vicksburg, and contain- 

 ing still less inert matter than the former, though not quite so rich 

 in greensand grains, occurs in the banks of Pearl River, at By ram 

 Station, on the N. 0., J. & G. N. R. R.; and I know of no locality 



