286 



Similar rolls of land, of mucli less altitude, but having the same gen- 

 eral direction, give an occasional broken aspect to the countiy, for some 

 miles, after descending from the summit. In the main, the smface 

 should rather be classed as undulating, than rolling, beyond this pecu- 

 liar elevated district. 



Plains and small prairies, having no apparent order of place, are com- 

 mon, particularly in the counties of the southern range, west of the di- 

 viding ridge. Some of these have a perfectly plain smface, as Pigeon 

 Prairie; others lie in gentle swells, like the prairie of Nottawasippi ; 

 while others partake of the rolling character of the country adjoining, 

 as do most of the prairies of Cass county. 



EXTENT OF TIMBER. 



A continuous tract of heavily timbered country occupies the eastern, 

 and a large part of the southern border of the Peninsula. Within this 

 tract, "opening" and plains are found only over lunited areas; without 

 it, heavy timber occurs only in isolated tracts. 



Commencing on Shiawassee River, the hne of timber passes through 

 the southern part of Genesee county, the south-west part of Lapeer, and 

 the western part of Macomb ; thence by south-west course, through the 

 southern part of Oakland, and eastern of Washtenaw ; thence bending 

 westerly, it continues in a very irregular coui-se through Lenawee, Hills- 

 dale and Branch, when it turns to the south, and entei-s Indiana. 



A large tract of heavy timber enters the counties of Bemen and 

 Cass, from the west, and skirts the lake through neai-ly the whole of 

 Berrien. 



SOILS. 



The soils throughout the districts examined during the past season, 

 are so varied, as well as so independent of the rock formations, that no 

 classification of them is admissible. The nature of the deposits 

 which constitute their base, will be noticed under the observations on 

 the geology of these counties. 



Extensive collections of soils were made, of which it is designed to 

 give a systematic analysis when the collections of all the soils of the 

 State shall be complete. Many of these soils have the appearance of 

 barrenness, which, from the salts contained, are, nevertheless, eminently 

 fertile, and unrivalled for the production of the grains most important 

 to man. 



