98 
THE SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
seding ihe use of it in all other forms. Marl 
contains besides carbonate ol lime other valua- 
ble constituents. Itssilexand alumina though 
fine in quality are not of much consequence, 
since they are never thus applied in su f&iie nt 
quantities to affect the soil materially^^ut 
some marls — those, in Virginia, for instance — 
contain sometimes sulphate of lime and the va- 
luable greensand of which I have spoken. As 
the sulphate of lime exists there in Eocene 
Marl it may be discovered in our formation. I 
have seen green sand in specimens from seve- 
ral localities in this State. A ileposit of green 
sand, such as is found and used to an immense 
extent in New Jersey, would be more valuable 
in your county than the richest gold mine in the 
world. There is none of it at Shell Bluff. 1 
have already spoken of phosphate ol lime. In 
marl from Ashley river, in this State, which be- 
longs to the same formation as our marls, 5 per 
cent, of tl.is phosphate has been discovered. 
From some crude experiments of my own, 1 
am inclined to believe it exists in some of the 
marls at Shell Bluff, and probably in yours — to 
what extent I would not undertake to say. But 
5 percent, of it would give you the equivalent 
of 9 bushels of ground bones in every hundred 
bushels of marl, which alone would be worth 
more than the whole cost of applying that quan- 
tity of marl, though the expense of it might be 
S5. We cannot, however, expect to find. it in 
such quantity in all the marls we use. Those 
will probably be richest in it in which are found 
remains of bones and teeth. In the shell marls 
on the Rhine, recent analysis has detected an 
important proportion of azote, derived it is sup- 
posed from animal matter. This is the most 
powerful, as you know, of all manures. There 
is every reason to believe that a scrutiny equal- 
ly rigid would disclose a valuable proportion of 
it in our shell marls here. 
The duration of marl in the soil, is undoubt- 
edly greater than that of lime. The question 
of the duration of calcareous earth applied to 
lands, is one of great importance itself, and 
about which you will no doubt desire to be sat- 
isfied before attempting to use it. I have men- 
tioned already, that the ancients regarded marl 
as producing its effects from 10 to 80 years. 
Lord Karnes slates an instance of their being 
observable for 120 years, and Mr. Ruffin ano- 
ther of 60 years. Few or no records of such 
experiments have been handed down from gen- 
eration to generation. In those countries where 
lime and marl have been u.sed most extensively 
and for the longest period, it is impossible to 
say how the land produced before they were ap- 
plied at all, in comparison with its production 
now. Of late years, more accurate accounts 
have been kept. The peculiar effects hrst ob- 
served to follow the application of lime, have 
been thought to disappear or materially dimin- 
ish at various periods, reaching from 4 to 40 
years, according to the amount applied and 
other circumstances. It is suppo.sed by writers 
and farmers abroad, that about bushels of it 
are consumed per annum by the crop, and that 
in general the influence of any quantity will 
cease in from 12 to 20 years. But these con- 
clusions are not to be relied on. It is certain 
that no crop will take off so large an amount as 
bushels, and the loss from other cau-ses is al- 
together indefinite. While though at the end of 
20 years, the same precise effects as at first 
may no longer be observable, it by no means 
follows that this may not be owing to the want 
of proper applications of other manures that 
would excite the lime again to its original ac- 
tion. Mr. Ruffin thinks that marl once placed 
on land, will endure as long as the clay and 
sand in it. Though we might not indulge ful- 
ly in ihis belief, I am of opinion that it will last 
for a period which may be called indefinite, 
from its remoteness — particularly when crops 
are grown such as we cultivate." Irish pota- 
toes consume more lime than any other crop, 
perhaps; nine tons, which are sometimes grown 
upon an .Tore, though not with us, abstract about 
266 lbs, or say 3§ bushels — but 260 lbs. are con- 
tained in the tops, which we never take from 
the land. A thousand bushels of turnips, 
tops and all, consume about two bushels of 
lime. Wheat, the cultivation of which is ex- 
tending among us, requires for a crop of 25 bu- 
shels, straw and all, about 9 lbs. ora half peck. 
Cotton and corn do not require more. Seed 
cotton sufficient to make a bale of 400 lbs. — 
that is 1400 lbs in the seed will consume about 
3 lbs., and most of that in the seed which is in- 
variably restored td'the land. If we treble this 
amount for the stalks and leaves, which howev- 
er usually rot on the ground, the exhaustion of 
lime by our heaviest cotton crops will not ex- 
ceed half a peck when every thing is taken off. 
Thirty bushels of corn will consume only abom 
If lbs. ol lime; if we add six times this amount 
for Ihe cob, shuck, blades and stalk, it will not 
require more than cotton or wheat. I arn 
not aware that our cotton stalks, or our corn- 
cobs, shucks, stalks or blades, have ever been 
analyzed; but I have, I think, fully allowed lor 
the lime they may contain. And at these rates 
of exhaustion, 30 bushels of lime, which is 
about the quantity containeddn 100 bushels of 
marl that has 60 per cent, of the carbonate, will 
supply the wants of our usual crops, when 
much larger than we now average, for 240 years, 
it the land was cultivated so long without rest 
or restoring anytl)ing_^to it. The consumption 
of the crop then is n^xt to nothing. The loss 
arising from other causes is undoubtedly great- 
er. Q,uick-lime dissolves in 750 parts of water. 
A fall of 44 inches of rain, which is less than the 
annual average quantity that falls here, would 
afford water sufficient to dissolve 170 bushels 
per acre, duicklime, when spread on land, 
however, becomes a carbonate, and nearly inso- 
luble, too soon to Jose to this extent. Still, a 
considerable amount might be lost in this way, 
by a heavy rain immediately alter liming. 
Lime after being burnt, falls into a powder. 
Its minute particles are forced by showers, aid- 
ed by deep p’owing into the subsoil, and much 
may be thus carried off. When these things 
are considered, it is obvious that all the lime in 
land may in lime be exhausted, as it has been 
from our “drifted” soils. But the chances ol 
its duration are greatly increased by being ap- 
plied in the form ol marl. Being a carbonate, 
it is soluble by the carbonic acid in rain water 
only in small quantities, and ages must elapse 
before it could dissolve and carry off any gieat 
amount; and not having been reduced to a fine 
powder, its particles are too large to be readi- 
ly driven down into the subsoil, below Ihe 
reach of the plow. Without, then, assign- 
ing any precise limit for the duration of marl, I 
think it may be safely concluded, that the effects 
of a sufficient application, under proper cul- 
ture, will last for a longer period than we can 
conceive ourselves to have any direct interest in 
the land to which we may apply it. 
With regard to what is a sufficient applica- 
tion, there is a great diversitv of opinion, and 
consequently of practice. Viewing it chiefly 
as a direct manure, in many parts of Europe, 
lime is applied at the rate "of 8 to 10 bushels 
per acre annually— in others, at 10 to 12 bu- 
shels every third year; and again, in other 
parts, at 40 to 50 bushels every 12 years. But 
as its indirect effects are as important, and far- 
more numerous than its direct, and it is there- 
fore an invaluable elementary constituent of 
soils, the true rule for its application urdoubt- 
edly is to furnish the soil at once, if possible, 
with as much as its constitution will bear, and 
to repeat the dose as frequently as improve- 
ment of that constitution will permit, since the 
more lime, everything else being in due pro- 
portion, the larger the crops. Acting on this 
principle, many farmers in Europe put on 3 to 
400 bushels of lime at once, and sometimes 
1000. Such liming is probably excessive there, 
and in our climate would be utterly destructive. 
Marl, however, containing from 50 to 70 per ct. 
of carb. of lime, may be safely used in tour 
times the quantity we can use quick litr e. The 
usual dose of marl of that quality in Virginia, 
varies from 2 to 300 bushels. But more can be 
applied even in Virginia than here. The hot- 
ter the climate, the more caution is necessary 
in the first dose at least ; though this is great- 
ly dependent on the condition of the land to be 
marled. In the hoj and dry climate of Egypt, 
the fruitful Delta of the Nile contains 25 per 
cent, oi carb. ol lime, which is equivalent in 
one foot depth of soil, to some 20,000 bushels 
per acre of marl containing 50 per cent.; but 
that soil is much deeper, and its vegetable 
mould inexhaustible. Depth of soil, and the 
amount of vegetable matter in it, must chiefly 
regulate the quantity ot marl. M. Puvis has 
given an interestingtable in reference tothis. He 
thinks that we may give to a soil three inches 
deep, 40 bushels of marl, containing 60 per 
cent, ot carb. ol lime, or 50 busnets containing 
50 per cent. ; and to a soil six inches deep, 80 
bushels at 60 percent., or 100 at 50 per ct. He 
d' es not refer to the vegetable mailer or other 
circumstarces ot the soil. I presume that the 
dej ths of the soils you cultivate range between 
the extremes stated, or at least that you seldom 
plow, and would not, therefore, mix the marl 
deeper than six inches. I think the amounts he 
specifies are very safe. As some of my lands 
are similar to yours, and our climates the same, 
I will give you my experience on this point. I 
began to marl by putting 200 bushels per acre, 
that averaged about 60 per cent. carb. ol lime. 
On old mulatto land, with a soilaboutsix inch- 
es deep, and containing about 4 per ct. of vege- 
table matter, 1 have net yet, alter four years, 
perceived any injury from it. On lighter land, 
containing less vegetable matter, and a soil four 
to five inches deep, I discovered marl burns the 
second year. Previously to this discovery, 
however, 1 had taken the alarm, and reduced 
the quantity to 150' bushels, on land similar to 
the last mentioned. On all the thin spots I 
perceived the “ marl burn” from this amount. 
I then further reduced the marl to 100 bushels 
per acre, from which 1 have as yet perceived no 
injury. Being now about to finish the marling 
ot all my open land, it is ray intention to go 
over it again, and to add 50 bushels per acre at 
a time, until I have given to all 200 bushels. 1 
shall by no means, however, venture to do this 
until, by resting and manuring, 1 have also fur- 
nished to it additional vegetable matter. 
I think I may safely recommend you to apply 
100 bushels per acre, of the richest marl you 
have, to any land that now gives you remunera- 
ting crops, and 200 bushels, or more, to your 
best lands. If they are low and sour they will 
bear still more. I am now putting 240 to 300 
bushels on some swamps I have drained, which 
have several leet ol vegetable mould. I should 
not be afraid to put 1,000 bushels per acre on 
such land — though here I think quick lime 
would be the bestapplication, as it would hasten 
decomposition. 
It is ahvays most convenient to apply marl 
to resting lands, and it is also agreat advantage 
to secure, by this means, a new coat ol decaying 
vegetation to start with. So new grounds 
should he marled the first year: it marled be- 
fore clearing it would be better still. Very old 
and exhausted land should be rested two years 
previouslv to marling; and in all cases, thin 
knolls should, if possible, be manured w’hen 
marled. But a little experience will furnish 
you the best guides in this regard — you will 
discover all the dangers and learn to apply all 
the remedies. . 
Experience will also teach you in a very 
short lime, the best and most convenient me- 
thods ol digging, carting and spreading marl. 
There are some difficulties connected with dig- 
ging from marl pits, which, with the means ot 
overcoming them, are slated in Mr. Ruffin’s 
work. They arise chiefly from water, which 
must be drained ofl, or pumped out, according 
to circumstances. I have no experience on this 
point. My marl is cut from the face of the cliff 
at Shell Bluff. It is estimated that if a stratum 
ot marl is 12 feet thick, 12 leet of covering may 
be removed to procure it, without hazarding 
too much. But should you find marl, you need 
not apprehend much dangerol working through 
it. The great lormalion of which it is a part, 
