Ten Days in Ohio. 233 
and light, but the general cultivation of red clover, has, within six or 
eight years, actually doubled the agricultural wealth of the county. 
Flint-ridge. 
One mile east of Somerset, the road commences crossing that 
singular formation in the geology of Ohio, called “ Flint-ridge.” 
The deposit shows itself in large black flinty masses, about half way 
up the side of a long hill, cropping out by the side of the road for 
some distance. It is harder, and also much darker colored, than 
that used in the manufacture of mill stones, on the Raccoon Creek, 
in Jackson County, or on the heads of Moxahela; but is of the same 
formation, being mixed with a portion of lime. A deposit of sand- 
stone lies over it, higher up the hill. It does not show itself again, 
until we are about a mile west of Somerset, when it crops out anew 
on the western declivity of a hill, in the same manner as on the east 
side, embracing the width of about two miles. Its general course is 
from north east to south west, passing through the counties of Co- 
shocton, Licking, Muskingum, Perry, Hockhocking and Jackson, 
and probably into the “knobs” and barrens of Kentucky. In Hock- 
ing County, it seems to have been deposited in a fine siliceous paste, 
of various colors, from a pure white to yellow, clouded and black; and 
is considerably used in manufacturing hones and stones, similar to “ oil 
stone,” for the use of the cabinet maker and joiner. In Jackson and 
Muskingum Counties, it is extensively manufactured into all the va- 
rious forms of mill stones, equal to the best French buhrs, which are in 
great demand through the western states. The whole deposit abounds, 
more or less, with the casts of fossil shells, beautifully replaced, in ma- 
ny instances, by pure quartz; some are wholly studded over with 
drusy crystals, others filled with chalcedony, and quite translucent. 
‘ ‘The various families of Producti, Ammonites, Nautili, Encrini, 
&c. with many undescribed species, are here presented, as the 
historic medals of geology, designed and impressed by the Creator 
of all things. Ihave a Productus, (beautifully coated with minute 
crystals,) which, on breaking the shell, exhibited the animal reduced 
to about two thirds of its original size. The shell is two inches in 
breadth, one inch and a half in length and about one and a fourth in 
diameter, and is the most beautiful petrifaction I have ever seen, I 
have also, from the same locality, a very interesting fossil, which may 
probably have been the pedestal or stem of an encrinital animal. It 
is nearly six inches in diameter, a perfect circle in outline, and two 
30 
VoL. XXV.—No. 2. 
