Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1869-04-02

5 no special search for such materials
) have been made. A scientific and
thorough examination of the extenf
location and properties of these depos-
its may render incaleuable service to
} agriculture throughout the State
After guano had failed in France,
| and clover began to diminish in Weld,
we are told that gypsum restored the
crop, and rescued the farmer from loss
In some States of the Union, before the
> introduction of railroads, the farmers
were known1tO transport this valuable
{ manure in their wagons more than a
hundred miles over the rough roads OF
the Allegheny mountains, and scatter
it over their lands. But we have, pro-
badly, abundant deposits of gypsum
in Ohio, lying idle at our very doors.
While it is mined in but one locality,
it is probable that it can be proftably
worked in dozen.
In some other States, mari has served
a valuable purpose as a fertilizer. In
Il Maryland, where it is said to have
been first applied, and where the beds
are extensively worked, the results
have been of the most satisfactory
character. The State Chemist says, in
his report, that an instance came to his
knowledge, where the good effects of
mari, applied forty years ago, were
still visible, though no manure had
been applied since that time. He
| states, that in the Eastern shore cOun-
ties, where it was chiefly used, greatly
increased produetiveness followed its
In New Jersey the mari beds are
still more extensive, and have been of
vast service to agriculture: Ihe most
| sterile patches of sandy soil, says the
State Geologist, aare made to sustain
very admirable crops of corn by the
| use of this powerful agent.'
! The mari is worth about fifty cents
per wagon load at the pits, and is
spread upon the land in the proportion
of from twenty to twenty-five bushels
to the acre. This amount is said to inn
prove the soil to very great extent,
and to be more than its necessities de-
mand.
In Ohio,we undoubtedly have extern
sive deposits of this valuable fertilizer.
Many years ago, during the process of
grading the streets of Newark, a mari
bed was discovered, which has been
advantageously applied to the lands of
that vicinity.
Two extensive beds, valuable as
mineral manure, were discovered in
Crawford county by Prof. Briggs, dur
ing the partial survey of 1888.
Similar discoveries were made in
Hamilton, Butler, and Montgomery
counties. In Adams was found a great
mari stratum log feet thick.
"The value of fresh water shell
mari, =" saws Prof. Mather in his report,
Y
gent farmers, but few know it when
they see it. 1t performs the
same office on land as air-sIaked lime.
and it is as valuable, while it has not
the causticity to injure vegetation.
One object in burning lime is to reduce
it to the state of powder by shaking.
The shell mari is already in a pulYer-
lied state, and only requires to be dug
from the sWamps and spread on the
land"
These facts carry with them their own
conclusions, and sufficiently indicate
the necessity for and advantages to be
derived from a scientific examination
70 the mineral manures of the
State. There is, probably, no way in
which this general Assembly can leg
islate so great a boon to agriculture as
to provide for such examination.
Another Important department. in
which a geological survey may benefit
Agriculture, is that Of drainage. The
Importance of this in State where we
are annually expending tens of thOus-
ands of dollars and enacting a vast
deal of legislation to provide for the
construction of "ditehes, drains, and
watercourses,' ''can scarcely be overesti-
mated. The subject of drainage con-
stitutes one of the most prominent
practical questions of agriculture IN
Ohio, and there is no doubt that many
of our lands which, in point of inbrln-
sic fertility, deserve place aInong the
best, are now in state of impaired
produetiveness for want of efficient
drainage. water" says an eminent
writer on agriculture, sis a good serv-
ant, but a bad master" When re-
tanned by the soil in excess, the land |
becomes f'Sour," and no matter how
rich in fertilizing ingredients, relapses |
into barrenness.
In suggesting the correct principles |
and proper means of drainage, geOlOgi-
cal examinations and maps become of
the highest Importance. t'By their |
help" says Mr.. Ansted, in his Agricu1- |
tura1 Geology, "the nature of the sub |
soil and the rock becomes known. By |
them, questions of drainage and water |
supply may be determined, and inn |
proVements of many kinds suggested. |
There are geological principles gov
eruing drainage not necessary to des-
cribe here, which, it is believed, may |
be of great service to the farmers of |
this State. It may be mentioned, how
ever, that in lands underlaid with clay, |
alternating with gravel, drainage may |
be made easily and inexpensive by |
taking advantage of the underlying |
strata and their relative position.
Drainage is not only important in |
it's relation to agriculture but to
health, and the generation of pUlmo-
nary disease, by the retention of an
excess of water in the soil, is affirmed |
by the highest medical authority. Low |
and damp lands are certainly not the |
most prOmotive of robust conStitu- |
tions, and the stagnant water of
swamps and other fiat lands is well
known generator of disease. That we |
shall have efficient and thorough drain |
age, is, therefore, a matter of promi- !
nent public Importance, engaging to |
every one who desires the physical |
well-being, as well as the agricultural
thrift of the people.
The survey may also be of great ben |
eft to farmers, by giving them correct |
knowledge of the value of their lands, |
both in minerals and for agricultural |
purposes, thus saving thousands of |
dollars otherwise likely to be squan- |
dered in impracticable schemes of cuI- |
ture and useless search for mineral de-
posits.
A still more direct advantage may
be realized from the appreciation in |
the value of lands growing out of the |
introduction of improved systems of
culture.
SIN Maryland, - says the State Chem |
lists report, "the most exhausting sys-
tens of agriculture were practiccd |
from it's earliest settlement, for
more than two hundred years. The |
soils in many of the counties were sup |
posed to be exhausted almost past re- |
covery, and in former years many of
our farmers and planters bid adieu to !
their homesteads and sought the Vir-
=
Improved systems, however, came |
into use, at first slowly but soon rapid
" prevailed, so that at this time, in
some of the counties, the crops are
supposed to have doubled in amount
within twenty or twenty-five years, |
and the value of the lands has in
creased in a still greater ratio.''
New discoveries of minerals will of
course largely benefit every landhOlder
on whose premises such treasures are
found. Such has been the experience
of other States, and such was the result
to a large extent even Ofthe partial and
incomplete survey of this State. The
rise in real estate in single county
growing out of the examinations then
made, was estimated at from 10h to 500
thousand dollars.
But the great purpose of the survey
remains to be considered. 1t consists
in the development of the mining and
manufacturing interests of the State,
by the examination and correct under
standing of her mineral resources.
Much as has already been done in
building up these interests, they are
source of wealth the extent of which is