180 GEOLOGICAL REPORT. [1301, 302 



cially on the very sandy soils of the region, which are pre-eminently poor in 

 lime. An analysis of an average specimen from stratum No. 6, dried at the 

 boiling point, gave the following result : 



BAKNES' MAIM.. 



Insoluble Matter (clay and silex) 77.438 



Potash 0.70'.i 



Soda 0.101 



Lime 4.800 



Magnesia 1.248 



Brown Oxide of Manganese 0.316 



Peroxide of Iron 2.989 



Alumina 6.449 



Phosphoric Acid 0.111 



Sulphuric Acid trace 



Carbonic Acid 3.372 



Water 2.55 \ 



100.197 



The large amount of inert matter contained in this material, would prevent 

 its transportation to any considerable distance, on account of the considerable 

 quantity required for an effective dressing. But to the sandy lands of the 

 neighborhood, its application will, no doubt, prove both beneficial and profitable. 

 It crumbles readily on exposure, in a pile, to the atmosphere, but contains no 

 pyrites to render any lengthy exposure necessary. No fears need be entertained 

 of overdressing, unless the application be carried to such an excess as to render 

 the soil too clayey — which is not likely to happen. 



301. Here, as elsewhere in this formation, the calcareous character of the 

 stratum does not appear to be contained to any great distance. About half a 

 mile below the bluff, we find at the water's edge a gray clay similar to that of 

 stratum No. 5 of the section, but instead of containing the lime in minute 

 specks and streaks, the latter occurs in solid veins or plates 1 S to } 2 inch thick, 

 while the mass of the clay contains none and is not, therefore, suitable avS a 

 fertilizer. Lower down still, at the "Bed Bluff,'' on S. 12, T. 4, E. 12 E. 

 (which is considerably higher than the " White Bluff," the Orange Sand strata 

 superimposed upon those of the Grand Gulf Group beiug 140 to 150 feet in 

 thickness), we find no trace of calcareous veins in the gray clays into which 

 the creek has cut its channel in the lower portion of its course. 



It is stated, however, by Mr. Barnes, that singularly favorablo effects were 

 produced, in experiments made by him on a small scale, by the use, as a fertil- 

 izer, of a grayish, sandy material obtained at the " Bed Bluff," and resembling, 

 in its aspoct, that of stratum No. 7 of the "White Bluff." I have not myself 

 seen this material in place ; specimens handed me by Mr. Barnes do not effer- 

 vesce with acid, but a qualitative analysis showed it to contain an unusual 

 amount of Potash, for the presence of which I cannot account satisfactorily, 

 since there is no trace of greensand in the mass. Future examinations must 

 decide this point. It is to be regretted, that Mr. Barnes' experiments with 

 these fertilizers were not made on a larger scale ; but the analysis shows good 

 reason to expect the favorable results reported by him. 



It seems very likely, that other deposits of calcareous marls may 

 be found in this region, and in the Lenoir Settlement, lower down. 



302. It is stated that bald hilltops, overgrown with lied Haw, 

 Crab Apple, Locust, etc., exist in east Lawrence county, but 1 have 

 had no opportunity of verifying the fact. 



