CLINTON COUNTY. 323 



that I could observe, any points to jirotcct these soft materials from washing, they all appear 

 to have been carried south, where we find in and about many places, as Kccseville for instance, 

 gi'eat depths or beds of sand. Upon the lii^hest land near the lake, I found shells more or 

 less comminuted — some, however, nearly entire ; but from appearances, ihoy and the sand, 

 in which they are found, appear to be drift. The place referred to, is between Champlain 

 village and the lake towards Rouse's point, and is about three hundred feet above the present 

 level of the lake. I found, besides, many other places where shells appear to have lodged. 

 In all these places, the accompanying phenomena arc different from what they are at Port 

 Kent and other places on the lake. The shells are mixed with small rounded masses of bluish 

 limestone, and arc quite broken. These facts, together with other circumstances, have led 

 me to believe that tliey have been transported from their original beds to the places where we 

 now find them. 



Peat. 



An important bed of peat exists in Champlain. It is one or two miles long, and about half 

 a mile wide, and its average depth is not far from twelve to fifteen feet. Probably many others 

 of less extent exist in the county, particularly on the western border. This, however, is very 

 favorabl}^ situated for improvement ; and should the agriculturalists be disposed to employ 

 this material in farming, its value will become obvious at once. One of the richest and most 

 stimulating substances may be formed of a mixture of dry fine peat, lime and animal excre- 

 tions. This compound, if properly formed, may be used after the manner of plaster, and in 

 a quantity not much greater ; and W'hile its fertilizing powers arc far greater than plaster, it 

 has not its disadvantage, that of exhausting the soil. 



Drift, Superficial Covering, &c. 



The superficial coverings of Clinton county are deep and important. Gravel, sand, and 

 rounded masses of quartz four or five inches in diameter, are spread profusely over most of 

 the county. For example, from Plattsburgh to Redford, a distance of twenty miles, sand, 

 gravel and these rounded stones prevail the whole distance. The latter make their appearance 

 about ten miles west of Plattsburgh, entirely filling the soil. But a more interesting distri- 

 bution of gravel and rounded stone is found in the long ridges which traverse this county from 

 north to south. These ridges mark the former bounds of the lake, or some other body of 

 water ; being evidently formed by the washing up of the gravel by waves. They are in some 

 places thirty feet high, sloping on the east and west sides at a moderate angle. There are 

 probably three or four of these ridges, for I discovered as many at difl^erent heights above the 

 lake ; but as I did not trace them far longitudinally, I am not able to speak with confidence 

 of their number. That ridges are formed as has been stated, there is no doubt ; and this fact 

 proves concliisiveh^ the action of water upon these loose materials at no very remote period. 

 And should the conjecture prove true, that more than one ridge has been formed, it will 

 establish the position that there has been a gradual rise of the country adjacent to the lake, 



