NJDEP - NJGS - First Annual Report of the Geological Survey of the ...

t/S. Iactions of the same Society, in 1828, by Professor LardnerVanuxem, says, "the marl of New Jersey and Delaware appearsto owe its fertilizing property to a small quantity of ironpyrites (v_hieh passes to sulphate of iron by exposure to theair), and also to animal matter, to its color, and to its effectwhen mixed with sand, of diminishing the calorific conductingpower of the latter."Prof. Rogers, in his Gcologisal Report of New Jersey_ considersthat there is abundant evidence "to prove that the truefertilizing principle in marl is not llme but/_otash." -Prof. J. F. W. Johnston, in his Notes on North Amcriea_made in 1850, Volume if., page 808, says, that on analyzingsome of the green grains and sand, he found "from one to oneand a half per cent. of phosphate of lime," and to this he attributesits fertilizing power.In the Working Farmer for April 1', 1853, are severalanalyses of marl by Dr. Charles Enderlin, of New York.His specimens were from the pits of the North American Phalanx.He foufid two and a half per cent. of phosphate oflime in one specimen. He also found that. the alkali was notall potash, but part soda. The fact of soda being a constituentof the marl was published in Silliman's Journal, second series,Volume IX., page 8S, for 1850, from an analysis by WilliamFisl_er.Numerous .other references might be given, but the aboveare enough to show that the question is still an interesting one.The following analyses show the principal constituents.Sulphates of iron, lime and alumina _phosphates of iron andlime, chloride of sodium, organic matter, &c., which can bedetected in it in small quantities, will.not materially affect theproportions of the principal substances.The first (1) is the analysis made by Mr. Seybert, the second(2) is the average given by Professor Rogers_ and thethird (3) is the analysis made.by Mr.. Fisher.NEW JERSEY GEOLOGICAL SURVEY