No. 63.J 177 



The height of the most elevated parts of the southern towns over 

 those of the north, or those on the Seneca river, may be estimated at 

 1,200 feet. This shows a difference of 1,100 feet between the geo- 

 logical and the actual elevation, which is accounted for by the dip 

 of the strata to the south, which is from thirty to forty feet per mile. 



Elevation is found to be an important element in estimating the 

 agiicultural capabilities of all countries, particularly in northern or 

 southern ones, as it has a decided effect on temperature, and conse 

 quently on vegetation. Humboldt, Davy, Arrago, &c. have estimat- 

 ed 500 feet of elevation, equal to a degree of latitude, in its influence 

 on plants; and the thermometrical range proves that this does not err 

 widely from the truth. This fact must be taken into account in the 

 estimate of agriculture in any district, and cannot be overlooked in 

 that of Onondaga. A considerable portion of the south part of the 

 county lies from five hundred to seven hundred feet above the level 

 of Onondaga lake, and as a natural consequence, must feel the influ- 

 ence of a reduced temperature when compared with the northern part. 



The deep valleys which, opening to the north, at the level of the 

 canal, extend southward to the south line of the county, cutting down 

 through all the strata above the salt group, are noi one of the least 

 singular features of the county, and exercise a great influence on its 

 agriculture. The valleys of the Limestone and Butternut creeks, the 

 deep central one of Onondaga, and those occupied by the lakes of 

 Otisco and Skaneateles and their outlets, are of this class. The hills 

 between them rise from three hundred to eight hundred feet high, 

 and their slopes from base to summit generally admit of cultivation. 

 It is at such points that the influence of temperature on the soil and 

 the crops is most plainly apparent. 



Any estimate of the agricultural capabilities of Onondaga, that 

 did not take into account the drift, or Quaternary deposit of Prof. 

 Vanuxem, must manifestly be very imperfect. This mass constitutes 

 the diluvium of the earlier geologists, and forms in nearly all cases 

 the cultivated soil; as the instances are rare in which the soil can be 

 directly traced to the disintegration of the rocks beneath. This drift 

 invariably is from the north, showing that the currents by which it 

 was deposited flowed from that direction; and hence its character is 

 easily determined. The northern towns of the county, constituting 

 the level portion, or all that part north of the canal, although based 

 on shales nearly impervious to water, have such a thick covering of 

 drift, that except in the lowest portions, the surface is usually free 

 from water, and the porous substratum allows the escape of the wa- 

 ter more readily than where the soils are less level, but more com- 

 pact. These soils abound in sand; and the pebbles abounding in them 

 are mostly from the Medina and red sandstones to the north of the 

 Clinton group, mixed with those of the Clinton and Niagara forma- 

 tions. Considerable difficulty will be found in draining those parts 

 of this district that are now swampy and wet, from the very level 

 face of the country, and the small fall of the streams that traverse it. 

 The detritus of the salt group are thrown back upon the limestone 

 masses, and the vast quantity of these that have been broken up and 



[Senate, No. 63.J X 



