ABRAHAM GESNER — REVIEW OP HIS SCIENTIFIC WORK. 7 



ore beds of the Pictou district, which also had attracted the 

 attention of Messrs. Jackson and Alger. 



In explaining the transportation of large masses of rock in 

 this district which are found far removed from their parent beds^ 

 and are found on the surface of the newer rocks or promiscuously 

 scattered over the ground, Dr. Gesner invokes the aid of powerful 

 currents. From his further remarks it is evident that he supposed 

 these currents to have lieen ocean currents and to have been 

 those of a general deluge. 



All the western part of this district is spoken of as the South 

 Mountain, and the rocks are said to be generally of transition age, 

 and are "among the most ancient of the secondary strata." 



This slate district, both as defined by Gesner and by the two 

 Boston authors, comprises the Silurian and Devonian rocks of 

 the province,* (except such as appear in the Cobequid range) and 

 the interior or northern part of the Cambrian belt of the Atlantic 

 coast. 



In the sheltered and fertile valley of Annapolis, Dr. (xesner 

 found the new red sandstone, a comparatively recent deposit, 

 and inferred that the red sandstones to the northeast of it were 

 of the same age. Hence he described all the northern area of 

 Nova Scotia as the Sandstone district. In this district the soils 

 are more fertile than in other parts of the province, and I)r. 

 Gesner had a high opinion of its marl as a fertilizer. He does not 

 fail to describe the extensive desposits of limestone, gypsum and 

 calcareous marl which are formed here. The extensive tracts of 

 marine alluvium formed in the northern part of Nova Scotia are 

 said to be laid down on these red sandstone rocks. 



The account given of the Wilmot spring is an interesting bit 

 of local history, in view of the extensive use now being made of 

 its waters : — 



" In the town of Wilmot, about three miles from Gibbon's 

 Inn, there is a mineral spring possessing medicinal properties of 

 considerable importance. When the discovery was first announced 

 to the public, numerous were the persons who, being afflicted 

 with difierent diseases, hastened to the waters, then supposed to 



'• In a work written thirteen years later Gesner classes these slates as Silurian. 



