Wilmington journal., 1869-07-16

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driven cattle.
| HnrI.
w. are glad ta know that the State
Geolocist. Professor KERR, continues his
Investigations into the deposits of Mari in
this immediate section. We are very hope
ful that much good will result from it.
The experiments with Mari, where the
| quality is at all good, shows that it is al
| once the cheapest, best ani most durable
OF all the fertilizers used. Ii the investi-
cations of Professor KERR result in the
more general use of Mari by our own peo-
pie, even il they do not develop its value
as an article of commerce, his lsbors will
be Of great benefit to this section.
The existence of Mari, in immense
quantities, throughout most of the eastern
| and southern counties of this State has
long been known. Indeed, for many
years it has been used in certain localities
as fertilizer. DR.. EMMoNs, by his inves-
LEGATIONS and reports, did much to attract
attention to its value, and give correct
idea of its agricultural Importance.
Heretofore the North Carolina Marls
hava had little or no commercial value, for
they have been found too greatly inter-
mixed with sand to bear transportation.
AS yet there has been no cheap or praoti-
cal method devised to separate the sand
from the useful parts of the Marl, and
consequently the use of this fertilizer has
been confined to plantations in the imme-
diate vicinity of the deposits. We trust
the present interest in this subject, engen-
dered by the visits and Investigations of
Professor KERR, will result in the dis
covery of Mari freer from sand, or lead to
the invention of machinery by which the
sand can be rapidly and cheaply separated
from the valuable parts of the Mari.
In this connection we find, in a recent
work. an interesting account of the bene-
fits that have been derived from the use of
mari in the State of New Jersey. It is
stated that the region of country in which
it is found hss been almost made by it.
Before its use, the soil was exhausted. and
much of the land was so lessened in value
that it's price was but little, if any, greater
than that of cheap government lands at the
west; while now, by its liberal employment,
those worn out soils have been brought up
to more than their native fertility, and the
value of the land increased from fifty to a
hundred fold. In these districts, as gen
eral fact. the mari has been obtained OF lit
tie more cost than that of digging and
hauling but short distance. There are
instances. however, in which large districts
ted by the use Of this substance, though
situated from ten to fifteen miles from the
mari beds, and when, if fair allowance is
made for labor, the cost per bushel could
not have beon less than from twelve to six
teen cents.
| In New Jersey, ton of mari is some
times ding from under each square foot of
surface; at even half this rate, square
mile will yield nearly 14,OOO,O 900 tons. The
quantity being thus inexhaustible, the
price is consequently low. We do not re-
collect to have seen any calculation as to
the extent Of the formation in this State,
but the alluyial character of the country in
which it is found, similar in all important
respects and indications to that OF New
Jersey, warrants the impression that it is
perhaps equally extensive.
As showing how successfully the marls
may be transported over railroads, the
Third Annual Report of the Geological
Survey Of New Jersey mentions the fact
thai, in 1866, there were transported over
one Of them 275, 900 bushels. all Of which
found market ont of the mari district
and much nf it out of the State, Aionl
the line Of the road were lands which were
AS barren, or rs much exhausted by cult
yation, as any in this State. The use Of
mari has renovated the country, and 6
profitable trade has sprung up which hat
not only benefited the owners of mari pits
but that part of the agricultural communi
ty who avail themselves of this substance
when it can be brought from a distance tc
their doors.
| A recent issue of the New York Time
contains an interesting account of the New
Jersey mari beds. Subioined we give tht
analysis of the Farmingdale mari bed
reported as having been made by Professor
GEORGE H. Cook, President of the New
Jersey Agricultural College.
Phosphoric acid, 3.5s
Potash, Observation-Disclosures. 81
Lime, ...............:........ -. SO
Alumins, MISREPRESENTATION. ST.
Sulphuric acid. Observation-Disclosures. 0.9