The Washington times., 1902-12-08
GREENSAND HARtt AS
FERTILIZER BENEFICIAL
Important Factor inlmDroVe-
ment of Soils.
BEDS IN UNITED STATES
Deposits in Delaware, Maryland, and
Virginia Offer an Inex-
haustible Supply.

The volume Mineral Resources a the
United States, 1901" just published by
the United States Geological survey.
contains an interesting report on Green
sand Marl, by A. L. Parsons.
The use Of greenland mari as a fer
tilizer has long been recognized as an
important factor in the improvement OF
the soils OF certain portions OF this
country and OF Europe. but the extent
OF the deposits is not a matter OF COM
mon knowledge. The deposits IN the
United States that are best known and
have been most extensively developed
are the mari Lcds Of New Jersey. These
beds, which are found outcropping in
a strip extending in a northeast and
southwest direction from Raritan Bay
to the Delaware River. occupy a region
about 100 miles long, with an estimated
area Of about i,22G51 square miles. In
addition to these beds. this formation,
it is safe to assert from the data known.
underlies all OF southern New Jersey at
a considerable depth below the surface.
An Inexhaustible Supply.
The continuation OF these mari de-
posits through Delaware. Maryland. and
Virginia offers an inexhaustible supply
OF this material, which has been utilized
only to a slight extent. The northern
border OF the deposits extends from a
point about two miles nerth Of Della
ware City through Chesapeake City 20
Chesapeake Bay at the mouth OF the
Sassafras River. On the west side OF
Chesapeake Bay the boundary Is more
irregular, but extends in a nearly direct
line from Bodkin Point to the Potomac
River at a point near Fort Washington,
thence along the Potomac TO Marlboro
Point on the Virginia side between this
point and Matthias Point but the malr
body Of these deposits lies east OF
north and south line from Matthias Point
TO the North Carolina line.
Eastern Virginia Boundary.
The eastern boundary Of the Virginia
deposits IS unknown, but the southern
boundary Of the Maryland and Delaware
deposits IS marked by an irregular line
extending from POpe's Creek on the Po-
tomac through Brandywine and Noting
ham to Tracys on Herring Bay. On the
east side Of Chesapeake Bay the border
is approximately a straight line from
Norman on Kent Island through Rolphs
and Mililngton. Nd, and Townsend. Del,
10 Port Penn on the Delaware River
The entire OUTPUT last year was frora
New Jersey and Virginia. and by far the
larger portion was from New Jersey. the
total estimated production being 80 $50
tons, with an estimated value OF S124,-
$50.
Use of the Mari.
A striking difference in the use OF the
mari is shown in the producing States;
the entire product from New Jersey is
applied to the soil in the natural state,
but the Virginia product is dried and
ground for use in commercial fertilizers.
IN either case its value as fertilizer de-
pends upon the quantity OF lime. phos-
phorie acid. and potash present.
The use OF mari in the manufacture OF
fertilizer. however. does not
depend upon the value OF the fertIlizing
elements contained so much as upon the
ease with which It may be prepared for
use. Marl, as a filler OF commercial fer
tilizer. has the advantage over other
materials In that it has in itself ingredi-
cnts that In time by decomposition. be-
cCme valuable. and because. In addition,
10 its frst cost is no greater than that
OF other filters which do not furnish
these fertilizInE ingredients.