244 ANNUAL. REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



GEOLOGICAL KELATION OF SOILS. 



By PROF. M. C. IHLSENG, State College, Pa. 



No State in the Union is so well favored of nature as is the Com- 

 monwealth of Pennsylvania, which well may expect soon to be 

 again called "Penn's Woods." Her vast mineral resources in iron 

 ore, coal and oil have been demonstrated; her manufacturing indus- 

 tries are recognized as placing her in the first rank of the sisterhood 

 of States; her ability to supply the world's demand for building ma- 

 terials must soon be admitted, and the systematic procedure of her 

 agriculturists are rapidly developing her untold agricultural possi- 

 bilities. To this same end, too, the natural agencies are contribu- 

 ting their poteuc}'. But whether or not the efforts of both are in 

 harmonj^ or the harvests as generous as they should be, have not 

 yet been ascertained. Doubtless every farmer is tilling the soil 

 which he finds on his lands with the best means and under the best 

 guidance at his command. But does every farmer protect that soil 

 from the ravishments of the natural forces? Does he join hands 

 with them to ensure the existence of an arable soil on his farm 

 when spring comes? Does he appreciate what his forest land is 

 doing for him to protect the farm? Every soil represents the re- 

 sults of a certain amount of energy. It is not a final product of 

 nature, but is merely one intermediate stage of the existence of 

 all mineral matter in its process of decomposition from rock to 

 liquid, and from mountain to sea. If this superficial deposit is 

 not arrested in its descent to the ocean, the question for next spring 

 is, whether or not nature will create a new soil of equal fertility. 

 My purpose, therefore, is to consider the forces operating to pro- 

 duce such deposits and the origin and distribution of soils within 

 this State. 



Over the State of Pennsylvania there falls upon every acre of 

 ground during each year more than 20,000 barrels of water. Some 

 States are more copiously supplied, and many are producing higher 

 agricultural values than Pennsylvania on an aggregate rain and 

 snow fall of but 15 inches, or 8,000 barrels. Most of the water flows 

 off from the surface to some creek and thence to the ocean, the 

 smaller portion penetrates the earth and disappears below or rises 

 into the upper air to be again condensed and precipitated as rain. 

 All of it either dissolves or washes away material from the surface, 



