R. B. C.
For an answer to the above see page 322.
The following communication was read before the New York Farmers' Club by the Hon. Henry Meigs at its meeting August 29, and is obligingly furnished us for publication.
For the American Agriculturist.
FARM OF HUGH MAXWELL, Esq.
Good Effects of Marl.—In a conversation with Hugh Maxwell, Esq., some short time since, he stated some facts in relation to the fertilising power of a red marl abundantly existing at Nyack, which induced me to visit the spot. I found Mr. Maxwell's farm of 110 acres bounded by the Hudson, well worth a visit. The whole was in excellent fence, made of the loose stones found on the land, neatly piled about 4½ feet high, forming fields of from 4 to 8 acres. The formation of these fences has used nearly all the stones which were on the surface of the lands. And in this it would seem as if Divine Providence had caused the rocks to be distributed of the proper size for fencing. Had the pieces been much larger or smaller they would not have answered the purpose so well as they now do. If they had been planted two feet under ground, or had been piled in larger masses, the labor of fencing would have been very greatly increased.
This farm, as well as all those about Nyack, lies on the singular mass of sandstone included by a front of about five miles on the river. All the surrounding rocks are of other materials. This sandstone, when quarried, exhibits strata of a kind of red marl of many feet in thickness, lying between strata of the sandstone. The quarry-men throw it out of their way, and millions of loads are lying near the water's edge, so that in many places vessels can lie alongside a bed of it, and slide it on board. On Mr. Maxwell's farm, the former proprietor, desirous of making extensive hard walks through his garden, caused this marl to be put upon them about one foot deep. Soon after this was finished, the walks began to produce clover; the white in such profusion and persevering succession, that all prospect of using the paths in that condition was abandoned: they could not be kept in order by the hoe. Mr. Maxwell being strongly impressed by this occurrence, determined on applying it to the surface of his farm. I saw a field of corn of several acres which had been top-dressed this year with the red marl, now bearing not less than 80 bushels of shelled corn to the acre—as great a product as is obtained from the best city manure, costing at Nyack nearly 37 cents per load. I saw an upland field of wheat, on which, as an experiment, Mr. Maxwell had top-dressed with this marl a space of three rods by two, from which I pulled an average bunch of straw-stubble, that is more than double the size and weight of any like parcel of stubble, to be found in the whole field of several acres. Unfortunately the husbandman had cradled all the wheat indiscriminately, which prevented Mr. Maxwell from examining the separate product of the wheat. I should not hesitate to pronounce it a double product. Mr. M. top-dressed a field of oats with this marl, and the yield was 70 bushels per acre. He top-dressed a field of clover with it the third year from the seeding, and the product is heavier than the crop of the second year. This field was dressed with ten loads of marl per acre. The corn is large 12-row yellow, and the stalks are about 10 feet high. The corn-blades never curled during the late drought, while other fields all curled. The corn was worked with the hand-harrow once, with the cultivator twice, and was hoed twice. No plowing between the hills. Mr. M. thinks that in dry weather it is very injurious to run the plow through, for it cuts the smaller roots of the corn. He has tried 25 bushels of hickory ashes, against 25 of anthracite coal ashes, and found no perceptible difference in the result.
The general effect of this red marl is perceptible in almost every plant and tree in that vicinity. Fruit-trees are especially vigorous and free from disease. Flowering shrubs, roses particularly, seem not to have been touched by any insect. I pulled up a mullein stalk growing on a naked mound of this marl, which measures nine feet in height, and the flower stem, which is covered with buds, is four feet in extent. The trees, excepting peach alone, are more thriving than those I have anywhere seen. The peach-trees have the yellows. Moss roses growing in rich grass are remarkably strong; Mr. M. finds that they do better closely surrounded by grass than in clear ground. He has ten kinds of healthy cherry-trees, including the red and white ox-heart, and the bull's eye. He has freely given, and wishes to distribute buds and grafts to all those who ask for them. Mr. M. has very healthy apricots, which have yielded fine fruit. He smoked the blossoms with sulphur and pitch, and all the fruit was perfect. This smoking was done in the evening.
Some of the fields had never been but partially cultivated, on account of being so swamped that cattle mired in them. He made in one four-acre field a drain ten rods long, and three feet deep, filled in with coarse stone. This drain formed a perpetual spring for his cattle, and this barren field has now buckwheat of at least thirty bushels per acre. One and a half bushels of seed was sowed per acre. No manure needed. This drain cost $1.75. Twelve acres were drained in the same style at a cost of $150; this field is now fine, and asks for no manure from New York, or Nyack marl. He prefers the same amount of marl to best New York city manure for all grains and grapes.