Agricultural Capahilities of the Nexo Forest. 
255 
and Plastic Clajs is, of course, an insuperable obstacle, on the 
ground ol expense in raising it to the surface. This difliculty 
is, however, to a great extent, obviated by the existence of nu- 
merous marl-pits in various parts of the Forest, but mostly to the 
south of the Railway. These marl-pits have, in times gone by, 
been largely availed of for the improvement of the surrounding 
land, and considerable benefit has been derived therefrom in 
many instances, and particularly on light sandy land ; but in other 
cases, where the land is naturally retentive, the application has 
so much increased the tenacity of the soil as to neutralise the 
good effects of the limited percentage of calcareous matter thus 
imported, and to occasion the preference to be given to the 
application of chalk, procured at a greater cost per ton, but at a 
less expense for a given amount of calcareous matter per acre. 
The number of public marl-pits is stated in the Book of Forest 
Claims to be twenty-four, and, as a charge of 6rf. per ton is made 
for royalty, the quantity dug annually is known, and of late 
years it has been extremely trifling. The advantage of these 
pits will, however, be very largely availed of when the Forest is 
broken up and cultivated, and will be found of great advantage, 
particularly on light soils deficient not only in calcareous matter 
but in clay likewise. An inspection of the analyses which ac- 
company this paper will show the amount of calcareous matter 
found in marl, and, by comparing it with chalk, a guide will be 
afforded as to the respective advantages of the application of the 
one or the other. 
One advantageous feature belonging to the New Forest is the 
existence, in almost every direction, of good roads ; due partly 
to the excellence of the material with which they are made and 
repaired, but still more to the absence of hedges and hedge-row 
timber, so that they are freely exposed to the drying effects of 
the wind. Such being the case, marl and other materials can 
be carted at a moderate expense, and may be reckoned, perhaps, 
including the filling, at \s. per ton the first mile, and 6rf. per 
ton afterwards ; so that 20 tons of marl can be conveyed an 
average distance of two miles for SOs., or three miles for 40s., 
the cost of digging and filling being about {]d. per ton. The 
question of using chalk or marl will be determined partly by 
the respective cost of each, but still more by the necessities of 
the land to which they are intended to be applied. If clay is 
nearly absent from the land, then undoubtedly it wdll be highly 
advantageous to use marl ; but if the land is tolerably stiff, and 
if there is a clay subsoil, then undoubtedly chalk will be most 
advantageous, from the much larger percentage of lime con- 
tained. The railway, which pursues an oblique and irregular 
