CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH 37 



The life of a schoolboy, roaming the fields when not 

 occupied with his duties, is rarely the subject of record, 

 and was no more so in the present case. At the age of 

 fifteen, however, he began to keep a record of the weather, 

 a few lines a day, without instrumental observations. 



Next come the two great strata of sandstone and slate, occupying 

 nearly the whole breadth of the valley. The North Mountain con- 

 sists of red and white sandstone and slates. A narrow dyke of trap 

 called Strong ridge, crosses the valley, about five miles east of Carlisle. 

 The Conedoowinit creek forms the dividing line between the lime- 

 stone and slate. Nearly parallel to the Conedoowinit, and at a 

 distance from the South Mountain, runs the Yellow Breeches creek. 

 The remaining streams which are of insignificant size, are the Letort 

 and Big Spring. 



; 'The fertility of the soil, varies much with the particular parts 

 of the country. On the South Mountain, there is not a great deal of 

 arable ground. The limestone land, however, is capable of a very 

 high state of cultivation, particularly near the water courses, in some 

 of the bottoms along the Conedoowinit creek, the timber grows to 

 a very large size; it is not uncommon to see Button woods, 7 feet, 

 Mossy Cap Oaks five feet, and Hack-berries two feet in diameter 

 and grape vines 6 to 8 inches. About seven miles to the southeast 

 of Carlisle there is a strip of woods called the Richlands, containing 

 trees of an astonishing diameter and height, so high indeed that it 

 is considered an almost impossible feat to kill a squirrel or wild 

 pigeon on the top, with shot. The slate land is very unproductive 

 compared with the limestone, though by good management it makes 

 a tolerable yield. The North Mountain is very rocky along its sides, 

 fertile however on parts of its top. 



'The most peculiar part of the county, consists of that portion 

 in the South Mountain. This is not a single ridge like the North 

 Mountain, but occupies an area of considerable breadth, made up of 

 short hills and ridges, separated by narrow valleys, and copiously 

 supplied with springs and swamps. 



"In the latter, we find the cranberry and fragrant magnolia, 

 growing in abundance, particularly in one called the Black Swamp, 

 near Pine grove furnace." 



