Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-06-26
RALEIGH, N. G., Feb. -, 1856

ject, would be gratefully received.
With much respect,
GEO. w. WHITFIELD,
D. NJ BARR1NGER,
j. L. BRIDGERs,
Committee.
RALEIGH, June 10, 1868.
Geo. ". Whitfield, Esq.,, Hon. D. ~ Bar
ringer, Col. Jno. l.. Bridgess, Committee,
dc.
GENTLEMEN: Il have not yet had time to
give the subject of your communication
the attention which it's importance de-
mands, having been wholly occupied with
the survey of the Western section of the
State. It is my purpose in few months,
after completing the examination of that
section, to take up, in detail the study OF
the marls of the Eastern counties, and,
In connection with them to discuss the
whole subject of our resources of fertiliZa-
ton in this State and the best methods of
utilizing them. But it has occurred to
me that it might be worth while, prelim-
inarily, to call the attention of your Com
mittee and of the Agricultural Society to
some general considerations which must
direct and limit our Investigations and ex-
periments in this direction.
Without going into the general subject
of manu- es and the theory of their action
upon the soil, it will be sufficient to state
in general, that the principal problem OF
practical agriculture in onr State and re-
gion is, how to restore and maintain the
supply Of lime and hunauS IN our soils. This
is SO, partly because these are among the
most important ingredients, and at the
same time the most liable to exhaustion,
and partly because, whatever method is
adopted Of supplying these, the other ex
haustible elements are also restored Incl
dentally.
The methods of supplying humus are
mainly two: First, the blowing In of green
crops; and second, the direct addition of
it in the form of stable manure, peat muck,
&c.
Lime may be restored directly, as lime,
or in the form Of mari or gypsum. And,
still better, either or both of these may be
composted with peat, &c.
Since the process of improving soils by
blowing in green crops, however advisable,
will not readily nor speedily be adopted by
our farmers, ID since the quantity of stock
in our region is and must long remain u
terly inadequate to furnish supply of sta
hle manure, it is important to enquire
whether there are other ooaittble sources OF
supply. The immense peat beds of orr
coast region will at once occur to you as
capable Of furnishing unlimited quantitle
for an indefinite period. In fact, there Ii
enough to supply for one hundred years
every acre Of cultivated land within ten
miles of railroad Or navigabie river.
AS for lime, of course the marlbeds OF
the same region furnish an inexhaustlble
supply. The manufacture of lime for agrl
cultural purposes ought to become at onct
large and lucrative business. The soils
,f 1aru of IA
ing of granite origi are generally yer,
deficient in this most important element
1t might be supplied TO large part of th'
eastern and middle sections of the State
from the marls near the coast, which ar,
often almost pure limestone. This is one
manufacture that your Society would do
we'll to encourage.
AS to the matter of transportation Of peat
and mari to considerable distances, [ have
no doubt that much might protitably b.
done in that way. Peat, air dried, Loses
from 3 to Z of its weight. The marls of the
coast are in many places rich enough IL
fertilizing ingredients, phosphates, potash,
&C., to bear transportation land where they
are not they might. in some cases, be con
centrated by simple mechanical means) ovel
large districts, along the rivers in whose
banks they abound, and on the line of the
railroads, as is done so extensively In New
Jersey.
But this is not the enterprise which
propose to you for your consideration. Il
is the utilization of these materials, together
,ciM the acaste fromthe fisheries of the Sound
and Rivers of the same section, for th,
manufacture of a mani pulated manure
which may be proftably transported ove)
the whole State, by water and rail. These
fisheries, as you are aware, furnish thou
sands of tons of refuse and offal annually,
which are now little better than thrown
away.
Consider the composition of these ma
terials The marls contain, besides Ii ne,
which is the principal ingredient, iron,
magnesia, phosphate of lime and organic
matter, and some of them, also, potash and
soda.
Here is an analysis of a stone mari near
Wilmington, given by Dr. Emmons Slick
20 per cent, phosphate 5, magpesia 4, car
Donate of lime Y, organic matter, &C., 2
When the sand constitutes large pro
portion of the mari, it may be separated by
simple means, so as to concentrate the more
valuable ingredients, as lime, potash, phos-
pilates, &c.
The composition of peat may be stated
Jas an average of many analyses) to be as
follows, viz:
R PosnsS,' 84 81 e: cent 2?
Soda, " 6
Lime, "A IS Sc
Magn esia, d" ''
Alumina G..