§0 District traversed by the 



Ottawa. It is likewise well known that the interior of the 

 Dartmoor Hills, is equally barren as the external ridge, 

 corresponding in that respect, with what we have endea- 

 voured to prove as being the case, in the regions now 

 under notice. 



It only remains to say a few words on the agricultural 

 iiature of the soil prevailing in the district explored. 

 The sand which has been mentioned consists of minute 

 crystals of quartz, felspar of different colors (generally 

 white or red), with, now and then, a small portion of 

 liornblende, or mica, but no garnets except in the recent 

 deposits round the shox'es of the lakes. The felspar some- 

 times occurs in a state of decomposition. This sand is 

 mostly covered with a very slight layer of vegetable 

 mould. 



Sand, by itself, is well known as the very worst 

 description of soil that can be met with, and totally unfit 

 for agricultural purposes. From its loose silecious nature, 

 it allows water to filter through it, and soon becomes dry; 

 consequently the seeds, which have germinated Mhile the 

 soil was wet from the spring showers, become parched up, 

 and perish during the summer heats. But sand mixed with 

 calcareous earth, becomes more tenacious, and retains moist- 

 ure for a greater length of time. On the other hand, if sand 

 is mixed with clay, it renders it more loose, each correcting 

 the faults of the other, — the sand by itself not retaining 

 sufficient moisture for vegetables, and clay not allowing 

 the small fibres of their roots to expand freely in search of 

 jiourishmont. It must also be remarked, tliat a calcareous 

 soil (like one composed entirely of sand or clay) is not in 

 itself a good soil, but only so in proportion to the degree 

 ^ith which it is mixed with decomposed vegetable matter. 



