85 



examined, and it is far from being improbable, that at no very con- 

 siderable depth beyond that readied by the ordinary wells of the 

 country, deposites calculated to prove of much economical value, 

 might be attained. Beneath the superficial sands and sandy clays 

 of the country, a bed of clay of a tenacious character is first reached, 

 frequently impregnated with salt, and communicating to the water 

 obtained from it more or less of a brackish flavour. Beneath this 

 a more arenaceous bed occurs, beyond which, as far as I can learn, 

 no digging has been carried. From this more sandy stratum, water 

 of a purer quality is procured. Hitherto no beds of marl or fossil 

 shells have been found anywhere in this region. Yet there is 

 reason for the opinion, that such deposites would be met with by 

 boring to some depth, and possibly near enough to the surface to 

 prove available in the agriculture of the country. 



The ivater of the Miocene marl district, whether of wells or 

 springs, presents nearly as great variety as the mineral beds from 

 which it issues. In the more eastern parts of the region, it generally 

 contains a notable impregnation of common salt, and in neighbour- 

 hoods where shell marl abounds, a marked proportion of calcareous 

 matter. The copiousness and transparency of springs of the latter 

 description, as well as the carbonate of lime which they hold dis- 

 solved, give them a character nearly allied to that of the limestone 

 springs of other regions, while the common salt which they almost 

 invariably contain, and with which they are sometimes strongly im- 

 bued, constitutes an important feature of distinction. The beds of 

 ferruginous clay and sand in many cases, impress a slight chaly- 

 beate character upon the w T ater, and occasionally impart to it so 

 large an impregnation of iron as to render it of decidedly medicinal 

 utility. 



Owing to the calcareous matter, and occasionally other substances 

 which it holds in solution, nearly all the water of this region pos- 

 sesses, the character of hardness. By boiling, this evil is entirely re- 

 medied ; — the carbonate of lime is precipitated, first rendering the 

 liquid cloudy, and subsequently collecting on the sides and bottom 

 of the vessel in the form of a thin incrustation. In such of the arts 

 as require a water free from this peculiarity, the marl water should 

 be boiled previous to use ; or, in lieu of this, though by no means an 

 effectual substitute, it should be exposed for some time to the sun in 

 open reservoirs. The carb. acid which is the chief solvent of the cal- 

 careous matter, being expelled by heat, suffers the latter to separate 



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