SOUTHERN DISTRICT. 
313 
Limestone, marl and peat, and means for supplying manures. 
The Southern district is deficient in limestone. The only calcareous rock which extends 
south of the Wheat district proper, is the Tully limestone : it lies between the Hamilton 
group and the Genesee slate. It appears about two miles northwest of Deruyter village, 
at Tinker’s falls, Tully four-corners, and at Otisco, where it caps Ross’s hill. The shales 
above and below are fragile, but wanting in calcareous matter; yet they are useful to a 
certain extent in renovating the soil, when conveniently situated. 
The Tully limestone appears also on the east side of Skaneateles lake, where it is only 
about fourteen feet thick ; hence its influence on the soil, even along its outcrop, must be 
inconsiderable. It is, however, important as a means of furnishing lime for agricultural 
purposes. Analyses of the soils from a large part of the Southern district, show, in the 
most satisfactory manner, a want of this material, and experience proves its great utility. 
South of the outcrop of the Tully limestone, the only deposit which can be employed 
for lime is the lake or freshwater marl. In several parts of this district, marl is quite 
abundant; and, in a few instances, it is burnt for lime. Its condition is extremely favo¬ 
rable for manufacturing lime. It is shovelled directly from its bed, into a mould of twice 
the length of a brick. On drying, the marl hardens, and may then be laid up into a kiln 
and burned. The lime is fine and white, and excellent for many purposes. There is, 
however, too much indifference on the subject, and hence not a hundredth part of the lime 
is used which ought to be. The marl ponds occupy many circular basins or depressions 
in the Hamilton group, and even in the superior formation. Many exist in Preble and 
Cortland. 
Some of the marl beds are overlaid with peat, but it is less common in the Southern 
than in the Wheat district. Of course, where these two formations, marl and peat exist, 
farmers ought never to complain of the scarcity of the means for improving their soil. 
The difference in the value of peat arises, in a great degree, from a difference in the 
quantity of soluble silex which it may contain. Some indication of its value may be 
obtained by a careful inspection of the matters, or of the class of plants, from which it is 
derived. If stems of the grasses are detected in the moss or peat, it will contain soluble 
silica, the presence of which fits the peat especially for a manure adapted to the cultiva¬ 
tion of wheat, oats and corn, or the cereals generally. If it is found to consist mainly 
of moss or swamp sphagnum, less soluble silex may be expected ; still it will be found 
extremely valuable. 
Peat should be dug or cut and pressed, if designed for burning. If it is intended for 
manure, it should be composted while yet moist, and mixed with other matters. The 
silex, by this course, is maintained in a soluble state. 
It is proper that the agriculturist should know, that by silex contained in peat, we do 
not mean sand, or dirt, which may be mixed with it. The silex which is spoken of 
here, is that which has been received into the composition of stems of grasses, and it 
remains in a soluble condition so long as it is moist. When thoroughly dried, and espe- 
| Agricultural Kurort, j 40 
