SECRETARY'S REPORT. 151 



that cultivation is almost impossible, and producing but a small 

 amount of poor herbage, which I think it would be well to re-plant 

 with forest trees of some rapid growing variety, and thus put them 

 into a condition where they would be of great benefit to posterity, if 

 not to the present generation. As they are, they are each year 

 becoming more worn out, from the continued washing down of 

 their best soils into the valleys below, which, if they were covered 

 with trees, would not be the case. The annual fall of leaves also 

 goes to increase the depth, and restore the fertility of the soil. 

 The white pine, lai-ch, locust and white birch, are trees easily 

 transplanted, the three former valuable for timber, and the latter 

 for fuel, are strongly recommended for this purpose. 



II. — Geology of the County. 



By a resolve of the Legislature of Maine, passed March 28, 1836, 

 the sum of five thousand dollars was appropriated, under direction 

 of the Board of Internal Improvements, to be expended by them 

 in carrying on a geological survey of the State. Dr. Charles 

 T. Jackson, of Boston, was appointed State geologist, and con- 

 tinued his labors through the years 1836-"r-'8, but the survey was 

 at that time discontinued on account of the heavy expenses and 

 liabilities incurred by the State growing out of the " Aroostook 

 war." The amount appropriated for the year 1837, was $3,000 ; 

 for 1838, $5,000 ; and for 1839, $6,000— making together the sum 

 of $14,000. Dr. Jackson published three reports, comprising a 

 vast amount of valuable information, to which I am indebted for 

 many of the notes comprised in the outline of the geology of Som- 

 erset county, which follows. Before doing this, however, a few 

 introductory remarks are oifered. 



Geology, as a study, has for its aim the natural history of the 

 earth's surface, and, with the greatest accuracy, it points out the 

 formation of the crust of the earth to as great a depth as our 

 means of observation extend, laying down important and inter- 

 esting laws to guide our researches into the wonders of the mineral 

 kingdom. 



The character of the soils at the foot of hills, and in valleys and 

 plains, is determined in a great measure from the composition of 



