Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1852-03-17
LETTER FROM PROF. EMMoNS.

LETTER FROM PROF. MmONS.
v. have been kindly permitted, by Gov. Reid,
:, bv before our readers the following interesting
s,,, from Prof. Emmons. State Geologisi
GoLDsBoRoueu, March 6, 1852.
II liz Ercelleney. Darid S. Reid:
s,,. In view OF the Improvements which arc in
,ness on Cape Fear river. and also in expec'at'on
4 iDdiue deposits important to tho agricaltor'sts
,,.o its hanks, and in the upper county on Deep
i,.r deemed it proper and best to make eikPiora
,.. an lis course and banks while its waters were
Inv. have, accordingly, made numerous examine
do, Of the formations on this river, and am able to
,,. tacs Of considerable importance as to lie geoo-
~. but more particularly of the deposits OF nsarI
Which abound upon It's banks, and At distance from
is course.
PnbabIv no substance has been discovered which
% muor,an, to the interest Of agriculture Of the
kxer Counties Of North Carolina, as mari. The
l,pds, especially those n which sand predominstes,
have been worn out might, perhaps, say more than
once Now it is by means of mari employed as the
hss of fertilizer, that these lands may be cheaP!y
nnova,ed On the poorest, however, OF these lands
not 10 be expected that this substance can sup
ply all that is wanting 10 impart to them their origin
al fertility; inasmuch, as in the progress OF long
cultivation and the production of variety OF crops.
the soil is exhausted Of those elements which mari
| By itself does not contain.
There are two kinds of mari upon Cape Fear river.
One is known as shell marl, and belongs rather to
Tie upper parts Of the river, may rather say II 10
thicker beds at distant points from the ocean. The
aher ma is known as the blue marl and is found Al
paals nearer the ocean than the former. The shell
na reaches to a point at least twelve miles above
Eilahehiovn, and is usually we'll exposed at diff.
ass points on the banks Of the river. So, also.
haea net 9Th in ravines at points distant from the
iIs. Hence it becomes more accessible to planters
'a requires less expense 10 hauling it. These beds
uy considerably ia extent. Some are visible one
fourth Of mile On the banks others appear to havs
been deposited in insulated particles. Their thick
'ss varies from foot to seven feet. They are moi
eminuoas deposits. The composition Of the shell
aa to the eye ealcareous, varying, however. from
avery sandy mari to perfect lime dePosit-consist
ing Of carbonate of lime. Many analyses should be
made Of this mari, as it is only in this way that its
real value can be determined.
The blue marl is different substance from the
ael uarl. 1t is, by the way, the substanee known
a'ae green sand, in New Jersey, and has long beer
muse there ani to the very great advantage OF arm
@' belongs to the cretaceous formation OF Ge
Sossts. The upper bed Of this mari l nov believe
el:nds above Elizabethtown. 1t is, however, qait'
andy and was unable to find at this point 'ts char
%eilstc fossils. Farther down the river, however
! browns bluff and Robinson bluff, found in wha
M ao. regard as the upper green mari. the character
Ae iossls-the E1ogyne ecs.ata; and at Sykes land
g @e Betmnite. At Black Rock, however, tn
~sf green mari is 10 great force, and believe
ay Other points it would be easy to expose It. o
a ara az loexhaustible supply Of this substance nigh
obtained for the use of Planters on the Cape Fea
'% Deep rivers. 10. -., .-s- -.
d. From the foregoing it will probably be pesceive
ns. s' @s banks Of the Cape Fear. and the nametoa
a, s which enter it from the South, are rich IN tes
u'zers; and it only requires an additional sPrit
p'oducts of their plantations. 1t Is proper to ot
S ave aefe that the mari deposits are found mainly
s.I et or South bank Of the river. am well sati'
o. mat the time is not distant when these rich d
sss sS Will be fully employed, and that their !aIu
.a se well Understood. It 10 true that exPeraenc
necessary to determine some points In 'se us'
M. instance, the most economical mode OF psePann
Waef to adapt it to the varieties OF soil on wnic
proposed to employ it. The blue mari esPec'ai'
sa" an analysis in order to determine lts comp:
ubs,.. lhe Jersey mari contains potash. ana u
Is regarded as the principal fertiIi.er 10
ub,,. aePe will be found that potash and also Pho
Ee Of lime are elements Of the marls OF iEis STAT
!, ~ wo are the expensive fertiize rs and are abos
ee,sa Taers to be sought for. for without them tn
Is %' would cease 70 produce perfect seed. ~
On, sase not attempted to give detailed account
,a,."1 saAmnation upon the Cape Feas,. bet simply
S,s,...:' OF few facts which supposed might
+ W. to your Excellency, os 60 tas - to sats
si5 ~ ~. mat the work 10 Ia progress. am please
sIo.s "e attentions and inteiligsnes oe ts gsnstem'
,s., asse met. and he 6siiitias which all'wi
is.%a s%ast, and especially the anxiety which - MAJ
di,,s..n 70 regard to the work. lam sometimes rata,
,sam;.ssc to know where to 60, the aRPsications
"1auons being so numerous. ,-z-sst .,..;
Most respectfully, your OBJ: ssry't; X ~,
"' evident that Prof. Emn,ons sstaehes much Il