Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-11-06
,,p FOR TIE ENQUIRER

NN oEalA
MEssRs. EDIToRs: In a former number of vour ma
per, | read with pleasure, a communication from Mr.
INN OIL Prhce George IN reply to the queries of
'HenHco," respecting an earth which contains various
Impressions OF marine shells, the Impression alone remain
ing, while the shells, which served as the mould TO the
earuh as 1t were, have entirely Disappeared. am AZ.
quainted with various localities of this earth, and no sne.
cimen, that have examined, has the slightest effervcs-
cence with an acid, although ahoundinp wiz ;nnrosion.
OF shells OF various forms aud sizes. If it contains lime.
it must be attracted by some acid, that has a stronger Aft.
nifty Tor it than the muriatic, for this acid will not olsen
gage 1t. Where 1t HAS been chiefly observed by me. il
presents itself a little higher up the country, than the dc.
posites of shells, and nearer the Granite ledge Of rocks
but sun below IT. , know OF no body Of shell mari, nor
indeed oil this earth with the impressions, 10 the West of
the Granite ledge OF rocks, which constitute the Fails nj
our rivers. To one locality l will refer YOU. which vo,,
can examine in any Of your daiIv walks As n y,o
scend the hill in Richmond, on which the Goyernor's bonso
stands, you will finds about half way down, on your RIGHT
hand, a body OF blush earth, tnged with yellow, in which
these Impressions are to be seen. I have never tested a
specimen from that locality, but presume, like others which
l have tried, where the Impressions Of shells were more
numeIous' II wIh noI riierversce with an acid. MI. Ruff
I'M considers The EARN in question, the same with what he
terms %Gypseous Firth, and speaks Of it, as containinc
gypsum IN small transparent crystals, or in powder re-.
seinbhng white sugar in appearance. If these crvstaIs
are to he lounV in what has fallen under nv e1amf,stion.
they have escaped my observation. The author of f,e
Essay on Calcareous Manures.n I am sure hss Tic scton,
ulc quahicauOns, and hope the leisure, and willingness,
lo~w-iarmers.
Tie main point to be ascertained, as / conceive. is.
WhelheF the earth in question containing these numerous
Impressions of shells, but not onervescing with an acid.
ana thereby showing 1t contains no lime, is valuable as a
manure ana would pay for the labor and time expended
IN hauling out, and spreading on our exhausted fields.
ny cotgeciures, hastily formed, and without the benefit
Of analysis or application TO the land as a means Of i'm.
proving NC SOIL are, That the earth in question is a mere
clay, that has imbibed the forms of shells. which in the
course OF ages, and by the action of water, or some other
operating cause have entirely disappeared, and with them
all traces Of the carbonate of Lfuye have scen simi.
lar impressions OF shells on a sandstone rock on the top Of
a mountain the sandstone not presenting the least vestige
OF hhe' Impressions OF leaves, and other vegetable substan-
ces are TO be seen on the slate, which is found in our coal
PITS ana Impressions OF fish and insects are often to be
met wih IA the cabinets of minerslogists, while the leaves
welt-sstablished fact, ascertained by the practice of many
experienced and %Judicious farmers, that the application OF
hmf TO lana has an undoubted tendency to improve IL ;
anH ! CONJECTURE Il Is to the carbonate Of lime contained Ia
ne shells that Mr. Rufin aud other gentlemen, who
nave been using what we term mari in this part Of the
country (out which more properly speaking u a collec.