357 



strata of quicksand and gravel. This clay sometimes approaches the 

 surface, as in the vicinity of Detroit Its average thickness must ex- 

 ceed one hundred feet. 



These soils are excellently adapted to agriculture. Silex enters 

 largely into their composition. Both clays generally contain a large 

 portion of lime,* which adds to their fertility. The contained gravel 

 assists to conduct away the surface waters, and prepare the ground for 

 tillage, while the retentive powers of the clay render it little liable to suffer 

 from drought. Thus, while the sand loams may be cultivated to wheat 

 and other grains, the greater portion of the clay lands is natural mead- 

 ow, adapted to grazing. Its value for this purpose is beginning to be 

 understood, and it is probable that were its merits fairly tested by a sys- 

 tem of dairy farming, it would prove productive of a profit to the hus- 

 bandman second to none in the State. 



The sandy oak openings and plains are generally productive. They 

 possess the advantage of being easily tilled, and are well adapted to 

 grain and root crops. Some portions produce good wheat. This soil 

 contains only a minute proportion of lime. 



No part of the county can be said strictly to have a limestone soil. 

 The great lime-rock formation approaches the surface at several points 

 in Brownstown and Monguagon, but is in general too deeply covered 

 by the clays to allow it- to characterize a large extent of soil. 



In the town of Plymouth a diflerent character of country prevails 

 from any yet described. This town and part of the two adjoining may 

 be considered as lying without the border portion of the Peninsula, in 

 which I have described Wayne county as included. 



This township presents a surface more rolling, and broken into fre- 

 quent ridges. They rise often from 60 to 80 feet from the plain, with 

 a steep declivity, and having no apparent uniform direction. They are 

 composed of gravel associated at the surface with a clay loam. For the 

 pro<luction of wheat, probably this soil is not excelled. 



The bounilary between the land of this character and the more level 

 tract which constitutes the whole remainder of the county, is strongly 

 marked by alow gravelly ridge, the supposed former shore of the lake. 



•An analysij of ICO grains of the clays, Uken at random, "hnwert : 



Upper BroKn Clay. Lotcer Blue Clay. 



Sand and sil'cious matter, 51.50 27 50 



Alumina, 2f),95 62,'fO 



Carb. Lime, 18.55 18.08 



Oxide Iron, 00 1,22 



