rHE CULTIVATOR. 
97 
PHOSPHATE OF LIME—PEAT FOR MANURE. 
me August number of the Cultivator I gave you a few has¬ 
ty notes upon the subject of Phosphate of Lime, in reply to the 
inquiries of “ A Practical Farmer,” of Staten Island. Although 
it is doubtless true, as there stated, that there are no localities 
yet known in the state, where this mineral exists in sufficient 
quantity for agricultural purposes, yet I indicated its existence 
under circumstances which doubtless yield an unfailing supply. 
Since the phosphates are known to form an essential part of 
cultivated grains, and this supply coming from no other source 
than the soil and what is derived from it, it follows that these 
substances exist there. Now there is no other source for its 
occurrence in soils, but from the decomposition of rock, for it 
is fully acknowledged that all soils are derived from this 
source. The phosphates must exist then, in the rocks original¬ 
ly, either visible to the eye, or so combined as to be invisible. I 
alluded to the analyses of coral, made by Mr. Silliman, Jr., 
proving the existence of phospates in all cases Now it is well 
known that nearly all our limestones contain corals, and some 
of them are almost entirely composed of the broken and com¬ 
minuted skeletons of these zoophytes; consequently the phos¬ 
phates must be as widely diffused as our calcareous rocks, and 
equally a consequence is the limit of the wheat growing region. 
I make these remarks incidentally, as showing the wide dif¬ 
fusion of a mineral substance essential in grain growing soils 
Now it is one of the most important objects to the future agri¬ 
culture of the state, that a full analysis be made of all the cal¬ 
careous rocks of the state, both limestones and shales. And 
not only should an analysis of these be made from single spe¬ 
cimens, but of specimens from numerous and distant localities 
in the same rock, so that its value in this particular may be 
known throughout its range. This is equally essential with 
an analysis of the soils, the marls and muck, and every agri¬ 
culturist should endeavor to facilitate an object so much to be 
desired. The present generation may not require this know¬ 
ledge to enable them to raise bread, but others are coming up¬ 
on the stage, and every advance made by us enables them to ad¬ 
vance still another step. Therefore as a foundation for agri¬ 
culture, the rocks, and especially the calcareous rocks which 
are every where loaded with corals, shells and other organic 
remains, should receive a thorough chemical examination. 
I have been led into these remarks incidentally from perceiv¬ 
ing the attention which is now being given to natural fertili¬ 
zers of all descriptions. The facts here stated may perhaps 
offer an explanation of the variable effects, as stated, of lime. 
In some instances the use of this substance is said to produce 
no beneficial effects upon soils, while in others its effects are 
acknowledged to be important and beneficial. Might it not be 
worth while to ascertain whether lime from the same rock or 
same locality, is uniform in its effects? And also in other ca¬ 
ses, whore no benefit is derived, may it not be desirable to in¬ 
quire if the limestone originally contained corals and other or¬ 
ganic remains? Perhaps the presence or absence of these may 
exert an influence not appreciated. This subject is ofhigh in 
terest to agricultural chemists, and may perhaps have received 
attention; though I am not aware of it. 
That some limestones are, or at least appear*to be, destitute 
of organic matter is true. All our crystalline limestones are 
apparently destitute of organic matter, but in most cases of this 
kind they have been obliterated by the process of metamor¬ 
phism, or the change by heat from an ordinary sedimentary to 
a crystalline one Many of these limestones contain crystals 
of phosphate of lime, and these are doubtless derived from co¬ 
rals or other organic matter in the rock, and segregated and 
crystallized by the same process which resolved the whole 
mass crystalline. 
The inquiries to be made, therefore, respecting limestones 
are, whether they contain organic matter—whether crystal¬ 
line or not, and if so, whether containing phosphate of lime 
disseminated. The effect of the different limes, and analyses 
of the original rock, would be a subject of agricultural interest 
and importance. 
This fruitful subject of theory and investigation has led me 
into a longer digression than 1 intended, and I perceive plainly 
that with a few more facts and experiments, an interesting pa¬ 
per could be made This however is not my design, being en¬ 
gaged in other pressing avocations, though still feeling an in¬ 
terest in agricultural subjects; which interest induced me, in 
the earlier annual reports to give some space to the subject. I 
should have done more, but I fancied they received little atten¬ 
tion, and therefore in the Final Report, instead of gathering 
the whole matter into a chapter, left it for the agricultural sur¬ 
veyor. 
My attention, as before remarked, was called to the subject 
by the inquiries of a “ Practical Farmer’' of Staten Island, and 
I perceive the same gentleman has addressed to me a commu¬ 
nication, in the November number ol the Cu tivator, relating 
to muck or peat. 
In the annual reports of the Geologists of the state, nume¬ 
rous localities, and almost inexhaustible supplies of this sub¬ 
stance were given; but in a few instances only had application 
neen made of its properties as a fertilizer. One example of 
this kind, which now occurs to me I will briefly notice. Mr. 
Merry, of Wheatland, Monroe county, whose farm embraced 
part of a large marl and muck swamp, drained a small portion 
near the margin, and seeded it with Timothy, sometime in June 
ifl recollect aright. He cut three and a half tons to the acre. 
About three fourths of an acre of the same ground was sowed 
with onions, and the produce was 400 bushels. 
But to test the virtues of this material as manure, a com¬ 
post of muck and marl was made with some stable manure, 
and thus applied to a heavy soil which produced but poof 
crops. The effect was a large crop of wheat in a season 
when much of the country around produced but very small 
crops. The same field, when I saw it, was just cleared of a 
crop of corn of between 60 and 60 bushels to the acre, while 
an adjoining field, where the soil was in its natural state, 
produced only 15 bushels! Such were the efiects of a compost 
of marl and muck; and not only were the crops thus improv¬ 
ed, but from a stiff clay soil it had become friable and 
pulvurulent, thus saving a great amount of labor in cultivation. 
But it is not necessary to quote examples of this kind. 
Your correspondent of Staten Island, has shown full well the 
beneficial results of the use of muck, and I apprehend if used 
with a little lime, even more benefit might result.* At least 
it would hasten the decomposition of vegetable fibre, neutral¬ 
ize any acids that might exist, and decompose sulphate of iron 
which is often present in muck. 
We will now proceed to mention some of the more important 
localities of this substance in the state, premising that from 
north to south, and east to west, there appears to be an inex¬ 
haustible supply. The localities cited are from tho Annual 
Geological Reports, and numerous others doubtless exist, 
which from circumstances beyond control, could not be exam¬ 
ined or even known to the Geologists. 
In the First Geological District, Mr. Mather remarks that 
peat is so abundant that it would be superfluous to mention 
localities, and that it occurs on nearly every square mile, and 
in almost every marsh, in his first report, Mr Mather gives 
no localities, but in the second he enumerates a large numbei 
in the counties of Queens, Kings, Richmond, Columbia and 
Dutchess. In these counties about 50 localities are enumera¬ 
ted, which is doubtless but a small proportion of the whole. 
The aggregate amount of peat estimated to be contained in 
these marshes at that time, was 3,000,000 cords. This estimate 
was for peat as fuel, and there would probably be nearly as 
much more which would be equally good for manure. 
The principal localities enumerated are Kinderhook pond 
containing 60 or 70 acres. The marshes and shallows of Kin¬ 
derhook. A marsh of 6 acres three miles north of Kinderhook, 
and another similar one in the north part of Stuyvesant. A 
marsh of 30 acres one mile southwest of Kinderhook. Two or 
three localities are mentioned in New Lebanon, one of 15 and 
another of 30 acres. In the township of Canaan alone, Mr. M. 
estimates 400,000 cords of peat. There is a small marsh near 
Upper Red Hook, and several between Fishkill and Hopewell, 
containing altogether about 40 acres, and estimated to contain 
40,000 cords of peat. Another marsh extending north from 
Long pond is estimated to contain 300,000 cords of peat. Mar¬ 
shes of from two or three to ten or fifteen acres, occur in the 
towns of Ghent, Malden, Hillsdale and other places. In the 
town of Amenia there is an extensive bog containing about 150 
acres, and estimated to contain 150,000 cords'of peat. Others 
in the town ot Dover contain above 75,000 cords There are 
also several peat bogs northeast of Dover, near Elbow moun¬ 
tain, one containing 40 and another 60 acres. Large quantities 
of peat occur near Pine Plains, in Copake and Taghkanic. The 
marsh in the valley of Stessing pond is estimated to contain 
500,000 cords. 
A marsh three miles east of Poughkeepsie is estimated to 
contain 130,000 cords, also several near Union Corners, one 
containing 60,000 and another 90,000 cords, and in Staford one 
about 60,000 cords. 
Numerous other localities of this material are enumerated 
in the same region of country, but it does not appear necessa¬ 
ry to swell the detail in this communication. The immense 
amount of this extremely valuable substance in these counties 
should he sufficient to direct the attention of farmers to the 
subject. Here is presented an almost inexhaustible supply of 
natural manure, and a product too, which in all swamps and 
waste low lands is constantly accumulating. In a few locali¬ 
ties only has any attention been given to these deposits of peat 
or muck, and in still fewer have persevering trials been made 
of its application to and effects upon crops. To some crops it 
is doubtless more applicable than to others, but either alone 
or in combination with other substances it is unquestionably 
of great importance to all crops. Carbonaceous matter is of 
the first importance in soils, and the condition of this material 
is peculiarly favorable to the absorption of moisture and gases, 
and mechanically fitted to loosen and render friable the closest 
soils. 
In a future number we shall give some farther notice of lo¬ 
calities of this substance, with some remarks upon its uses. 
Albany, February, 1845. JAMES HALL. 
* Perhaps 1 might here introduce as a note the mode of ma 
king manure on sugar and coffee plantations ol the West In¬ 
dies, as detailed to me by a gentleman of Barbadoes. Yegeta 
ble matter of all kinds, leaves, grass, twigs the refuse of cane, 
and in fact every thing of vegetable matter with stems not 
larger than one’s little finger, is gathered together; a pit is 
made of sufficient depth, a layer of the vegetable matter 
thrown on, then a layer of lime, and again of vegetable matter 
and so on until the pit is filled. The place is then enclosed, 
and cattle yarded there for six months, when the whole will 
be found in a state of decomposition, and fit for removal. This 
is one of the best manures. What a lesson to those farmers 
who burn their wheat straw in view of limekilns, and suffer 
tons of leaves, weeds and other vegetable matter to decay up¬ 
on the surface, “ wasting its sweetness upon the desert air,” 
instead of yielding it to the crop of the succeeding year. How 
manv thousand tons of manure could be made in this way an¬ 
nually in New-York, and as a consequence how many thou¬ 
sand dollars would actually be added to her wealth? 
