REPORT OF THE STATE GEOLOGIST. xli 



are found of an extent sufficiently great to make them of value to the 

 neighboring towns for paving purposes at least. This is the case in the 

 vicinity of Palestine, where the deposit is ample to supply this most 

 valuable paving material for several of the surrounding towns. 



The fire-clays and pottery-clays of this series of beds are among its 

 most valuable deposits, rivaling, if they do not exceed, the value of 

 the deposits of iron. Their high grade has been proved both by chem- 

 ical analysis and by their manufacture (on a very small scale, as yet, 

 however) into fire-brick, tile, and pottery. When they shall have been 

 systematically studied, their different qualities and localities accurately 

 determined, they must necessarily attract the attention they so surely 

 deserve, and prove the basis of important industries. 



Among the sand beds of this area are some deposits of pure white 

 sand. In a few places this is mixed with a very pure kaolin, from 

 which, however, it can easily be separated by washing. These sands 

 are perfectly adapted to the manufacture of glass, and if the alkali depos- 

 its of West Texas (consisting in places of almost pure sulphate of soda) 

 prove sufficiently abundant for use with them, we have the essential 

 constituents of glass, and if we add to this the advantage of the cheap 

 fuel of water gas, which we have every reason to believe can be pro- 

 duced from the lignite, we have every inducement for the erection of 

 glass works on an extensive scale. 



Greensand Marls. — The qualities of these valuable fertilizers have 

 been mentioned in connection with the soils resulting from their de- 

 composition. Too much can not be said in regard to their great value. 

 The State of New Jersey to-day owes her agricultural possibilities to 

 the existence and use of similar deposits within her borders. Without 

 them their soils would often be practically useless. The potash, phos- 

 phoric acid, and iron contained in them are all valuable as plant foods. 

 The decomposition of the material is generally very gradual, and 

 therefore these elements are added to the soil, a little at a time, and for 

 this reason it is a durable fertilizer. If it were necessary to secure 

 more rapid results the decomposition of the material could be hastened 

 by roasting it with access of air before applying it to the soil.* This 

 fertilizer is especially valuable for fruit trees. 



* Experiments on average greensand in the laboratory gave an increase of four hundred 

 per cent of soluble potash after roasting. 



