Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1837-07-06
100 90

Loss, &C, UI5
100 90
The fossil oyster and scoiiop shell,
(Ostrea Virginica and Pecten, of which
many mari beds are composed, are gene
rally found in nearly an unaltered State.
These shells compared with recent, are
found to retain animal matter in almost
andiminished proportion, and are little
better fitted for the soil, than recent ones
OF The same species. at is TO the AMI
NAL matter retained by the fossil scoI-
Tops, that we are TO ascribe the dark
colour which they assume when burnt
for lime. The value of this shell is i'm
paired by its insoluble character. Next
in the hardness of dsin,egra,ion, may
be enumerated the large clam, Venus
Mercenaira,) and an oblong smooth fat
shell, (Crassatella.) Most other species,
though entire when found soon fall to
pieces, and spread their fertiiizing pro-
persies through the soil. The Chama
IS small two-valved shell, Of rugged
exterior, readily breaks TO pieces in the.
ground, and is spread with great facility.
The Surpula possesses these advantages
IN still higher degree. 1t is found nu-
Inerously in Surry county. The small
shells are most efficacious generally the
propoIGonate Of carbonate and green
sand. is usually great. and they are lost
easily reduced 10 the condition 10 be
beneficial to the land.
Pa!reruient White Mart has been
found ia extensive beds in MiddIesex,
New Kent. James City, York, and Glou>
-Gester, AS much as 81 per cent. OF cal
fsreoas matter has been found in one of
these localities, and the general proper
tion exceeds 80 in the 100. This marl
presents an appearance not unlike that
Of white chalk in many situations. The
moss of the stratum is chiefly made up
Of a white or yellowish friable matter,
,niermixed with fragments Of the harder
species Of shells. II sometimes so much
resembles white clay, that a distinction
cannot be made easily, excerpt by chem.
ical analysis.
Blue Mari, from the soft condition OF
lts shelly matter, and predominance OF
clay IN IFS composition, is peculiarly
seTyiceable on the more atenaceous yari-
~.eties oil soil Its calcareous matter is US
naiiy inferior 10 beds of white or brown,
but is. in some cases, equally advanta-
geous to the land.
The hard .ferrug inoas marls from the
mechanical texture, prove less valuable
than either Of the former, though rich
ID calcnreous matter. The beds cousis
usually OF shells more or less broken. in
termixed with brown Ierruginous sand,
rlay. The fragmentary masses approach
log to limestone, which occur frequently
is referred to this class By burning
these might be converted into .valuabl,
lime, from the large per cent. Of carbon
ate Of lime they contain. "a specimen
from the cliff at York, yielded 81 pei
cent. calcareous carbonate :" almost a.
large proportion as the Valley lime
stone. Regarding it N its true light a.
tertiary limestone, we see no reason why
!, should not become a source of profite
bic manufacture in its immediate yicin
lty.
Green Sund from the remarkable ef
fects small quantities have had upon the
soil, impaTts DO doubt much value To IN.
rnarls where it is present. Its found ir
the mari and disseminated also in fine
OVERLAPPING stratum ofclay or sand. Thi,
OVERLAPPING stratum should certainly b,
taken along with tile mari. The per cent
contained OF green sand renders il O
much advantage to vegetation;and where
ibe green sand abounds il is quite as be.
nc6cial as the mari itself
SsloAats Of Iron and Sulphur, occur in
small quantities, in beds Of clay, more or
less sand, and generally dark. They
would not prove beneficial 10 the soil,
according to Professor r. The former
lDdeed' has been supposed detrimental
10 vegetation. In some eases the action
Of a mixture Of these, copperas and sui
PhUF clayS, has been found beneficial.
distances OF this kind, Professor r.
thinks may be merely owing to the pro-
lection afforded from insects. TO which
these substances are offensive and des-
t'UctiVe.