Mineralogy and Geology of Nova Scotia. 323 
have said, occupies but a small part of the country, being met with 
principally in the township of Halifax, where it constitutes the 
dreary and barren hills which surround that city, and which have 
falsely been considered fair specimens of the soil of Nova Scotia. 
From the nature of this rock, that part of the country, in which it 
predominates, must for ages remain sterile; as this flinty aggre- 
gate obdurately resists the action of the elements, and will re- 
quire a long period for a decomposition of sufficient soil to re- 
ward the labors of the agriculturist ; and this soil, from its nature, 
will never advantageously compare with the rich loam of the 
valley of Annapolis, or the garden of Acadia, Cornwallis, which 
are more favored by nature in this respect. Halifax, fortunate- 
ly, isnot dependent upon her soil to “yield her bread” ; but, 
situated at the head of one of the most beautiful harbours in the 
world, with the romantic Bedford Basin in the rear, she possesses 
commercial advantages, to which those of no other place in the 
country can be compared, and is fully compensated for the imper- 
fection of her soil, which, collected in the valleys, suffices to 
produce the garden vegetables for the city. 
The traveller proceeding from the United States to Halifax, 
who is desirous of studying the principal rock formations de- 
scribed in this paper, can easily arrange his route so as to exam- 
ine the structure of the country. If he goes by the way of St. 
Johns, (N. B.) and takes the steam-boat to Annapolis, he may 
examine to advantage the trap rocks of the North mountains, and 
the clay-slate of the South mountains, in his journey along the 
valley of the Annapolis river, in which he will travel between these 
two ranges to Windsor; and then cross the South mountains, the 
border of the sandstone and the quartz rock formation, to Halifax. 
From Halifax, he may shape his course eastwardly to Pictou, and 
