8 Geology of Massachusetts. 
face, the soil will be too argillaceous; or if the gravel stratum be ex- 
posed, the soil cannot be distinguished from diluvium. All these 
varieties of soil thus produced, may be seen in the valley of the Con- 
necticut; where exists the most extensive tertiary formation in the 
State ; extending nearly to Middletown in Connecticut. Upon the 
whole, there is little to choose in an agricultural point of view, be- 
tween those tertiary formations that occur in Massachusetts, and our 
diluvium, although in England, some of these formations, that em- 
brace beds of loam and marl, are very productive. But it is doubt- 
ful whether our tertiary formations are identical with any in Europe. 
At any rate, ours contain no marl, and very little loam; and where 
the sand is uppermost, much of the soil corresponds to those unim- 
proved and unimprovable tracts, that occur in the immediate vicinity 
of the English metropolis—composed of what is locally denominated, 
bagshot sand. Where the clay predominates, however, cultivation 
and proper manure produce a valuable soil. Of this description are 
the small tertiary patches on the Map in the vicinity of Boston. 
There, in fact, the clay near the surface, appears generally to have 
been disturbed, and to be mixed with loam; and itis doubtful wheth- 
er they ought not rather to have been colored as diluvium, than as 
tertiary. It ought also to be remarked, that the sandy plains of 
the Connecticut river, are very congenial to the growth of rye, and 
are very easy to cultivate. 
New Red Sandstone. 
This is found along Connecticut river. Although composed of 
numerous varieties of rock, the prevailing color is red; and the 
reddest varieties are most liable to decomposition ; viz. a red slate 
and ared sandstone. No rock in the State disintegrates so easily as 
this ; nor has any other so impressed its peculiar characters upon the 
soil. In Long Meadow, Wilbraham, Southwick, West Springfield, 
Easthampton, and Greenfield, it is common to see tracts of consider- 
able extent, where the diluvium and tertiary are chiefly swept away, 
exhibiting that reddish aspect, which in England, is so characteristi 
of soils derived from this formation. The Devonshire butchers, it is 
said, are able to distinguish the sheep raised on this soil, by the color 
of their fleece ; and many local names in that country, originated 
from the same circumstance ; such as Rougemont Castle, in Exeter ; 
Red Hill and Redford, in Somersetshire ; Red Brook, in Glouces- 
tershire ; Red Mire, Rotherham, &c. in Yorkshire. 
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