> . Niagara group. 



SECTION OF THE ROCKS. 253 



the view of the Falls, and of the ravine, Is striking and 

 beautiful. The section of the strata, as seen at this 

 place, is as follows : — 



Limestone, 



Shale, 



Limestone, . . CHnton group. 



Sandstone and thin \ 



clay marls, chiefly > . Medina sandstone. 



red, J 



This section Is now well known, as well as the Influence of 

 the Niagara shale, in hastening the working back of the 

 Great Falls. It illustrates, however, what I have had 

 occasion to say In reference to the soils and geology of 

 western New York. The numerous layers of red clay 

 marl, among the red rocks of the underlying Medina 

 sandstone, are In conformity with the economically Im- 

 portant observation, In reference to the agricultural 

 value of this group of rocks, to which I adverted In 

 the preceding chapter — that the poorer Medina sand- 

 rock of the eastern counties of New York becomes more 

 mixed with clay towards the west. Hence the rich soils 

 to which It gives rise below the mouth of the Niagara 

 Elver, and along the south-western borders of Lake 

 Ontario, where it forms the surface of the country. 



Above the Niagara limestone, rest the Onondaga salt 

 rocks and their dehris; and though these are spread over 

 the surface of the country In the neighbourhood of the 

 village of Niagara, they are not seen in the section of 

 the ravine as It appears from the bridge, nor on the 

 immediate banks of the river. 



I attempt no description of the Falls. The first peep 

 I had of them showed me how very little all I had read 

 of them had Impressed me with anything like a definite 

 Idea of the peculiar features of this great descent of 

 water, or of what I was entitled to expect when I came 

 to look upon It. I infer, from this, that they cannot be 



