. III. DIST. CHAR. Soil. 163 



looser or less consolidated state they differ frora 

 the soils of the next order in not being accompanied 

 bj the agent of their formation. 



d. 133. VERY MODERN SEC. s. (S. secund. recen- 

 tissima) differ from all the preceding soils in the 

 process of their formation being carried on at the 

 present day. They seldom contain petrifactions^, 

 except of wood ; and the conservata are less com- 

 mon in them, than in the modern soils. They are 

 found incumbent on most of the other soils ; but 

 those which they frequently overlay are the modern 

 and less ancient. 



Very modern soils are wholly superficial,, never 

 being covered by -strata of any other formation. 

 They are sometimes stratified but never regu- 

 larly. 



Obs. The substances which belong to soils of 

 this order are frequently in a loose and unconsolidated 

 state ; among these are sand, gravel, loam, clay, &c. 



t Never, perhaps, except in particular instances, where the ac- 

 cumulating matter of the soil has surrounded already formed pe- 

 trifactions, detached by various operations of nature from their 

 original beds. Such, it is said, have been observed in the lava of 

 volcanos ; and are, now and then, found in the sand and gravel, 

 deposited by existing rivers the latter, however, are always 

 rounded or worn like other debris ; and hence, are readily distin- 

 guished from organic remains, that occur imbedded in the soil, in 

 which their mineral change ha* been effected. 



