[2878] The Marga terrea of Linnæus. It abounds in various parts of Europe.
[2879] From the Greek, meaning “not bitter marl.”
[2880] Marl does not begin to fertilize till several years after it has been laid down; hence, it is generally recommended to marl the land a little at a time, and often. If the ground is fully marled, it requires to be marled afresh in about eight or ten years, and not fifty, as Pliny says.
[2881] “Argentaria.” Used, probably, in the same way as whitening in modern times. See B. xxxv. c. 58.
[2882] An exaggeration, no doubt.
[2883] Probably meaning “smooth marl;” a variety, Fée thinks, of argillaceous marl, and, perhaps, the potter’s argillaceous marl, or potter’s argil. He suggests, also that it may have possibly been the Marga fullonum saponacea lamellosa of Valerius; in other words, fullers’ earth.
[2884] Creta fullonia.
[2885] See B. xxxv. c. 46.
[2886] This would rather seem to be a name borrowed from the Greek, αἰγλήεις, “shining,” and πελιὸς, “white.” Notwithstanding the resemblance, however, it is just possible that it may have been derived from the Gallic. Fée queries whether this is the schistoid calcareous marl, or the schistoid argillaceous marl, the laminæ of which divide with great facility, and the varieties of which display many colours.
[2887] A variety of the terreous marl.