315 



These relations of the compoTient parts of our diluviums, give a 

 character to the soils of the Peninsula, which enables us to compare 

 them most favorably with those of most other States of the Union. 

 Th6ugh being very generally what may be denominated sandy or grav- 

 elly, and often answering in appearance to a description of soils which, 

 in the Eastern States, are considered as absolutely barren, the variety 

 and due intermixture of their components, and more particularly the 

 large proportion of carbonate of lime which is combined with them, 

 either in the form of pebbles, of in a very comminuted state, imparts to 

 them unusual strength and fertility. The latter circumstance is that 

 Avhich so admirably adapts them to the growth of wheat, and in this 

 respect, most of the soils of the Peninsula may fairly be pronounced 

 unrivalled. 



Whatever may have been the causes which swept these materials 

 over the face of the rocks, whether oceanic currents, or bodies of float- 

 ino- ice, the character of these diluviums, as well as numerous accom- 

 panying facts, plainly imply that they came in a direction northerly 

 from their present beds, and often from great distances. Consequently 

 we find intermingled, as well as scattered upon the surface, numerous 

 rounded fragments of those primary rocks which are known to 

 exist in the Peninsula of Northern Michigan and in Canada, from the 

 size of the largest "hard-heads" down to fine gravel. In proceeding 

 from our State southerly, these deposits are found gradually to thin out, 

 evincing a diminution of the sustaining power with the increased dis- 

 tance from the original bed of the transported materials. So that, while 

 the Peninsula of Michigan has been most liberally supplied with an un- 

 commonly deep and arable soil, made up of a variety of materials, the 

 States of Ohio and Indiana, on the south, are in great part destitute 

 its place being supplied by the clays of the next lower formation. 



The deposition of these materials took place with or without appa- 

 rent order and uniforrriity, according to the character of the existino- sur- 

 face, and other circumstances which may have governed the transport- 

 ing forces. From this cause considerable variations are to be found in 

 the depth, nature, and composition of the diluviums, and hence, also 

 material differences are occasioned in the soils and other characteristics 

 of the country. In many places a uniform stratification has taken place, 

 as if the result of quiet deposition. This is more particularly apparent 



