Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 13.djvu/97

* MARL. of a light yellowisli or grayish color to white, sometimes compaetcd into a solid limestone. Its content of lime is greater (50-11,3 jjer cent.) than that of the shell marl and the percentage of pot- ash and phosjihoric acid is smaller. In the lower layer occur the Cretaceous marls (green- sand), which vary considerably in chemical com- position and agricultural value. Their fertilizing value is determined largely l)y their con(cnt of potash (.'S.5 to T.jjcr cent.) and phosphoric acid (1 to 4 per cent.), although many are calcareous (1.25 to 'J per cent, of lime). These marls have long been used with beneficial results by New Jer- sey farmers, although the benefit is more marked in case of marls rich in phosphoric acid and lime than in case of pure greensand containing a high percentage of potash, probably because tiie potash is in the form of an insolul)le silicate (glau- conite) and is very slowly available to plants. Marl is l)otli a direct and an indirect fertilizer, improving both the chemical and physical condi- tions of soils, correcting acidity, unlocking in- soluble plant food, and promoting nitrification. It is very lasting in effect and has been used from ancient times for restoring worn-out lands to fertility or for improving naturally infertile soils. But because lime (q.v.) is quicker in action and of greater efficiency it has been used in many eases instead of marl, although some kinds of marl are extremely useful on certain soils. On account of its bulkiness and the large amounts which must be applied in order to secure beneficial results, marl can be used profitably only in close proximity to the deposits. Booth, in a report of the State geologist of Delaware, recommends 60 to 100 bushels per acre as the proper amount to be applied on poor light soils, 100 to 200 bushels on clay soils, while 200 to 500 bushels may lie used with advant.age on soils of good quality abundantly supplied with humus. The addition of quicklime to marl (30 to 40 bush- els of lime to .300 to 400 bushels of marl) has been found to quicken the action of the marl. It is generally advisable to let marl lie exposed to the air some time before it is incorporated with the soil, thus destroying any poisonous compounds which may be present. Consult; Rulfin, Calcareous Manures^; Ullmann, Kalk und llerf/el; State Geological reports of Delaware, Kentucky. Maryland. Xew .Jersey, North Carolina, and South Carolina ; Maryland Agricultural Experiment Station Report, 1880. MARLBORO, miirriiur-fl. . city, including several villages in Middlesex County. Mass., 25 miles west of Boston ; on the New York, New Haven and Hartford and the Boston and Maine railroads (Map: ilassachusetts, D 3). Among the features of Marlboro are .a handsome city hall, public library, high school building, and a soldiers' monument. There are extensive boot and shoe, box, automobile, and carriage factories, electric.'il macliine and lamp wcu'ks, and manu- factories of shoe-making machinery, hose pipe, and bicycle and automobile tires. The govern- ment is vested in a mayor, annually elected, a bi- cameral council, and administrative departments. The members of the license de]iartmenl are ap- pointed by the mayor: of the police, fire, and street departments, by the mayor with the con- sent of the council: while the members of the water, health, and poor departments are elected by the council. The city owns and operates the water-works. Population, in 1890, 13,805; in 77 MARLBOROUGH. 1900, 13,009. Seltkd in lOoli by a company from Sudbury, Jlarlboro was incorporated as a town in lOtiO, and was chartered as a city in 1890. In 1670, during King Philip's War. it was almost wholly destroyed by the Indians. Out of parts of the original township, Westborough was formed in 1717, Southborough in 1727, and Hud- son in 1806. Consult Hudson. Hinlory of the Town of Marlboro, Masmichusctts {Boston, 1862). MARLBOROUGH, marl'bc-ru. An old and interesting town in Wiltshire, England, pleas- antly situated in the valley of the Kennet, 75 miles west-southwest of London (Map: England, E 5). The chief edifice is the 'college,' a hand- some building occupying the site of the old castle. As early as the days of Richard Cceur-de-Lion there was a castle at Marlborough; and a Parlia- ment, who.se enactments were called the 'Statutes of JIarlbridge,' was held there in the reign of Henry III. The town corporation dates from 1200. It owns remunerative real estate and a water supply, and maintains an isolation hospital and sewage farm. Population, in 1891, 3012; in 1901, 3046. MARLBOROUGH. The northeastern dis- trict of South Island, New Zealand. .rea, 3.000.- 000 acres, about one-fifteenth of which is suitable for agricultural purposes and nearly one-half for grazing (Map: New Zealand, D 4). Coal, gold, and copper are found in the district. Population, in 1896, 12,483. MARLBOROUGH, John Churchill, first Duke of (1650-1722). A celebrated English gen- eral. He was born probably June 24, 1650, at Ashe in the Parish of Musbury, Devonshire, the second son of Sir Winston Churchill, a politician and historian, and a stanch supporter of the Stuarts. John Churchill was educated at Saint Paul's School, but early in life entered the army. He saw some service at Tangier against the Moors, and from 1672 to 1677 he bore arms on the Continent against the Netherlands, serving part of the time under the great Turenne. A new era in the history of war was then beginning. Artillery and musketiy had displaced entirely the old pikeman, and rapidity of movement hence- forth decided campaigns. In 1674 T.ouis XIV. made Churchill a colonel of his regiment, and in IC78 he was made colonel of foot in the English service. Though there was no question of Church- ill's ability, still the rapidity of his promotion was due also to the fact that some time between 1665 and 1668 his sister Arabella had become the mistress of the Duke of York. .bout 1676 Churchill fell in love with Sarah .Jennings (q.v.), who was a lady-in-waiting of Princess Anne (later Queen Anne), and noted fiu' her imperious- ness and her beauty. Throughout life she was tlu' one person to whom Churchill was faithful : otherwise he was ever ready to betray if it suited his interests. The couple were married early in 1678, and thus Churchill gained the favor of Princess , ne, who was under the complete domination of her dictatorial attend- ant. In the following years he was occasion- ally employed in diplomatic missions to Hol- land, but usually he was in attendance on the Duke of York. In 1682 he was created a baron. When in 1685 the Duke of York* as- cended the throne as .James TI. Churchill be- came still more prominent. He commanded a body of troops to suppress the rebellion of the