54 On the Minerals of Canada. 



found for sale in large quantities in most Canadian townsv 

 It is a fact ascertained by the experience of very many years m 

 France and Germany, and more lately America, tliat Gypsum ju- 

 diciously applied, sometimes doubles, and even trebles tlie quantity 

 of certain plants usually grown upon an acre ; a study of the mode 

 and time of applying it, and of the plants most benefited by it 

 ought not to be lost sight of in Canada, where it so largely abounds 

 in the District between Niagara river and the Indian Peninsula 

 of Lake Huron. The value of the exports from Canada of ground 

 plaster and lime show a steady and important increase. In ISSS', 

 the total value was only £1340 Cy., in 1854 £201*7, and in 1855 

 £19,112. 



BRINE SPRINGS. 



In describing the great extent of the Gypsum and Brine bearing 

 rocks of Canada, it is possible to speak only with comparative cer- 

 tainty of their economic value with respect to Gypsum. Although 

 Brine springs may be common and apparently sufiiciently 

 strong to warrant the commencement of working operations, yet 

 failure and disappointment have so often resulted from unfortu- 

 nate attempts in New York, and even in Canada, that actual 

 experience resulting from trial is the only sure indication of suc- 

 cess. In this group of rocksj brine springs occur abundantly in the 

 region between the valley of the Grand River and the Indian 

 Peninsula, and in the eastern prolongation of the same rocks enor- 

 mous quantities of salt have been made at Salina. 



The vast extent of country not hitherto thoroughly examined 

 but occupied by the salt-bearing rocks, leaves it extremely pro- 

 bable, but only extremely probable, that brine springs suffi- 

 ciently strong for manufacturing purposes will be found and 

 worked west and north-west of Hamilton. The question is one 

 of much commercial interest,, and is represented in our annual 

 expenditure by the sum of £51,.320, which we pay to the 

 United States, and £13,9 7 7 to Great Britain, making, with other 

 small importations of the same material, the total amount of £69,r 

 209, representing 1,687,926 bushels of salt in 1855. 



MARBLES. 



Statuary marble is a material employed in an art which no one 

 can expect to find exercised to a large extent in Canada in the 

 infancy of the country ; it is evident, therefore, that the finer kinds. 



