Cape May County NJ Archives History .....Cape May Shell Fertilizers May 10, 1856
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Donald Buncie http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00034.html#0008389 April 1, 2024, 3:51 am

Although Cape May County is not so rich in marl deposits as Cumberland, yet from her
extensive line of sea and bay coast she possesses many valuable facilities for
agricultural development. At various points, beds of blue mud interspersed with
shells are found, and undoubtedly possess rich mineral qualities, and will be much
used when their real value and manner of application becomes better understood. From
their close resemblance in appearance to shell marl deposits, it seems reasonable to
suppose that they are marl beds in process of formation, and in proportion to their
decomposition, are valuable as fertilizers. Being less decomposed, their action on
the soil would necessarily be slower, but at the same time somewhat similar. An
article upon the subject from any of our readers who have tried experiments with it
would be interesting to agriculturists. Besides, the deposits of shell are found in
the lower section of the county in the upland at the depth of one or two feet. If
these shells were turned up by deep plowing and gradually pulverized and mixed with
the soil, they would furnish an inexhaustible supply of self renovating material in
the soil itself. Much slower in their action on the soil than burnt shells, less
striking but more durable effects would follow their use.
Besides these, the sounds, inlets and oyster beds in Delaware Bay furnish an
exhaust-less material, for a constant supply of lime, sufficient for the
agricultural wants of a large portion of the County, besides supplying other markets
with an important part of one of their choicest luxuries.
Besides the valuable manures supplied by the shells, the County is traversed by many
streams, swamps and mashes, capable of supplying the farmers with immense quantities
of mud, rich in fertilizing material. As far as these have been tried they have been
found to answer all reasonable expectations and to form a cheap and permanent
manure. Mr. Richard Holmes, living near Cape May Court House, has very successfully
tried the mud from the salt marshes, and upon his light land, under his excellent
management, we have seen fields of corn that would average from seventy five to
eighty bushels of corn to the acre. The growth of rich grasses on the same land is
proved by his cattle yard, containing some of the finest stock in the State. His
method of applying the mud, is to compost it with one twentieth part of stone lime,
and let it stand exposed a year or two to leach out the salt. Thousands of acres of
light land in this county contiguous to the marshes, might be much improved with
little expense, in the same manner.
Another source of agricultural wealth to Cape May, is the vast number of fish, king
crabs, &c., thrown so profusely upon its long line of sea and bay coast. From the
little experiments made with them composted and manufactured, it is shown that they
possess a fertilizing power equal to the best guano.
Cape May possesses probably the first manufactory in this country, for manufacturing
these animals into manures. A factory has been established at Goshen, by Mr.
Jonathan Ingham, of Salem, and Mr. Thomas Beesly, of Dennisville, at which manure is
prepared from these crabs. They are dried and ground in a mill, and mixed with
charcoal, plaster, and other substances, and sold under the name of Cancerine. Owing
to its recent discovery its full value has not yet been fully established by
experiment. By analysis it is shown to contain more ammonia than guano, and is sold
at a rate considerably lower.
We have no hesitation in predicting that at no very distant day its fame will be as
well established among the leading fertilizers as guano now is. Of the facilities of
supplying a large demand, some idea may be formed from the fact that for several
weeks along in May and June the bay shore is covered with them for forty miles, and
that a million of them can be picked up on one mile of beach. Each one weighs on an
average about four pounds, so that each mile of coast could supply four millions of
pounds annually of these alone, besides immense quantities of fish useless for other
purposes, but capable of being made extremely valuable in this way. Where applied in
the form of compost upon the poorest soil at the rate of from two thousand to four
thousand per acre, it is made to produce from twenty to thirty bushels of wheat per
acre. A prejudice has existed against their use from a belief that clover will not
thrive after them, and that they bring in sorrel. The experience of Mr. Bates of
Fishing Creek and other farmers, proves that if any such effect follows it can
easily be corrected by a dressing of lime or ashes. Fine crops of clover having been
raised by them in this way after using the compost. Much of the soil of Cape May and
Cumberland is similar, and is very susceptible of easy development by means which
have been shown to be ready within their reach. The soil is light and capable of
producing vegetables profitably, which find a good and ready market at Cape Island,
within their own County. Like Cumberland county, the capabilities of Cape May for
profitable agricultural development are not all understood abroad, and hardly at
home. We have long been of the opinion that she offered better opportunities for an
easy and independent farmer’s life, with more of its luxuries than the great West
can afford.

Additional Comments:
Source: West-Jersey pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1851-1884: May 10, 1856

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