QUATERNARY FORMATIONS THE DRIFT. 213 



7. Thirty rods farther west, the chief boring showed 8 feet 4 inches of wateiy, partially 

 decomposed peat, free from noticeable travertine or marl. Bottom, blue clay. 



8. The fourth boring, 60 rods from the last, showed 5 feet 6 inches of wateiy, partially 

 decomposed peat, 3 feet 6 inches of a compact, close textured, reddish, well decomposed 

 peat, with blue clay at 9 feet. 



9. The fifth boring showed a similar section, blue clay with shells being reached at 

 8 feet 4 inches. 



The lower compact peat of the last two sections presented all the physical appearances 

 of superior quality, being apparently free from the calcareous material found so abun- 

 dant in the first series. The marly peat will undoubtedly prove a good fertilizer, and 

 is well adapted to the sandy soil of the neighboring farms. 



At the head of Lake Geneva there is a small area of similar marly peat, 8 feet deep. 



In section 20, town of Sugar Creek (T. 3, R. 16 E.), there is a peat marsh about one- 

 fourth of a mile wide, which extends eastward for several' miles, but is narrow. To the 

 westward it widens and connects with an extensive marsh in the town of Richmond. 

 The following is a typical section from the center of section 20: 



1. Surface black and somewhat earthy. 



2. Well decomposed, dark peat of moderate compactness 5 ft. 



3. Firm, well-decomposed peat 4 ft. 



4. Drab clay, mingled with peat, at 9 ft. 



The narrowness of the marsh at this point, and its evident exposure to wash from the 

 neighboring land, render it probable that a portion of the firmness of this peat is due to 

 very fine silt, that could not be detected by sight or touch. At other points the surround- 

 ' ings were more favorable. 



Horicon marsh was tested near its south end, with the following meager results: 



First Boring 



1. Surface, loamy peat. 



2. Coarse undecomposed peat 2 ft. 6 in. 



3. Black peaty clay 1 ft. 6 in. 



4. Blue clay 1ft. 



5. Gravel at 5 ft. 



Second Boring 



1. Peaty soil 1 ft. 



2. Yellow clay 3 ft. 



3. Blue clay, lower part sandy 2 ft. 6 in. 



4. Gravel at 6 ft. 6 in. 



Third boring essentially the same. Probably other portions of the marsh would show 

 more peat. 



A marsh near Berlin, the peat of which, I was informed, had received a favorable opin- 

 ion from judges at the east, was tested. It lies along the Fox river, whose inundation 

 must be supposed to affect its quality. Three out of several borings will represent its 

 nature : 



First Boring 



1. At 1 ft. 6 in., fibrous, not well decomposed. 



2. At 3 ft. 6. in., fibrous, not well decomposed, yellowish brown. 



3. At 5 ft. 6 in., better decomposed, reddish. 



4. At 6 ft., dark greenish blue clay. 



5. At 6 ft. 6 in., clayey sand. 



