374 



Stony Point, near Brest. About one mile in extent has here an alti- 

 tude of 5 to 8 feet, occasioned by an outcropping ledge of limerock. 



The effect of the surf breaking upon the outer edge of the alluvial 

 fields and islands is to accumulate detritus, brought up by the lake, occa- 

 sioning sand beaches. These by successive additions assume the form 

 of ridges, generally elevated about 4 feet. Beaches thus formed skirt 

 the outer edge of the delta of the Raisin. A narrow ridge of sand is 

 frequently seen protecting low marshy tracts in their rear. In a similar 

 manner a spit of sand, four miles in length, forms the b'lrrier to Ottawa 

 bay. This has probably a base of limerock, with clay superimposed, 

 which has been protected from the erosive action of the lake by the 

 cover of sand at the same time deposited from its waters. 



SOILS AND TIMBER. 



The county is bordered on the east and west by heavily timbered 

 clay land?, having a width varying from two to nine miles. This tim- 

 bered tract, on the west, continues into the adjoining county. 



The whole included portion, in width from 8 to 14 mile=, and ex- 

 tending in northeast and southwest direction into the adjoining counties 

 on the north and Ohio on the south, consists of sandy "openings'' and 

 plains, with a large prop'^rtion of wet prairie or marsh. 



The heavily timbered tracts produce a large growth of o,ak, white 

 and black ash, elm, lynn, beech, maple, whitevrood, black walnut and 

 sycamore, evincing a rich and very durable soil. Cotton wood is found 

 in swamps, on the western edge of the county. 



The timber of the plains and openings is mostly a yellow and white 

 oak, often a thin and scattered growth, upon a meagre soil. Some 

 clayey and more fertile por-tions produce hickory, and through French- 

 town and Raisinville, burr oak and chestnut are abundant. 



The entire county may be said to be characterized by the great lime- 

 rock formation, which is found to lie at no great depth throughout, and 

 approaches the surface in at least twenty diffei-ent places. Beds of clay 

 and sand repose upon it. The former evei-ywhere evince the proximi- 

 ty of the limerock by their extremely marly character, and the numer- 

 ous imbedded angular fragments of the i-ock. 



The outcrops of the limerock are found to lie in sevei^al distinct ran- 

 ges, extending through the county in a north-east and south-west direc- 



