NJ Pine Barrens Maritime-Culture-Landscape 1 1 2024

ef: frank leslies weekly newspaper 9-1-1866
Near Timbuctoo
NEW JERSEY MARL PITS.
THE advantages of marl as a fertilizer have been greatly overlooked in this
country until within a very recent period. With our immense territory of
rich soil in the new States, we had little care to improve lands worn out
with long cultivation, and so neglected the means of maintaining the
fertility of our farms, although they were often quite available. Of late
years it has been found more advantageous to make lands adjacent to
market as productive as possible, and immense sums have been expended
for the various appliances which subserve that end. Among these, marl
occupies a prominent place. It is found in almost inexhaustible quantities
in many Parts of the country, and can be profitably applied to almost any
soil. The lower portions of New Jersey contain immense quantities of marl,
and our illustration shows the manner of digging and sending it from the
pits. It is easily cut out, and is thrown directly into the cars, which stand on
convenient tracks, by which it is taken wherever it is needed. By its use
lands that were quite barren have been made to produce liberally,
rewarding amply the labor and money expended upon them.
4 Rancocas Creek National Water Trail Nomination