1847.] Geology of Lewis County. 323 



which must have been produced wlienthe rock was formed. One 

 of these may be seen in the bed of the little stream which has 

 been mentioned above, as forming a cascade south of the " chim- 

 ney." It is a half cylindrical block about three feet in length 

 and one and a half in diameter, which has fallen from the cliffs 

 above; and whose section presents a series of concentric cresents. 



The next rock in the series, occupying a large area of the south- 

 western portion of Lewis covmty, and extending west into Oswego 

 and south into Oneida counties, is the gray sandstone of Osweo"o. 



No natural sections of this rock exist in Lewis county, and the 

 only knowledge that is possessed of it is derived from observa- 

 tions made in the other counties above named. It forms the bed 

 of Fish creek in Osceola, and the head waters of the larger tribu- 

 taries of Black river from the west. Grind stones have been pro- 

 cured from this rock in West Turin, but its remoteness from the 

 settlements has prevented it from being used to any extent for that 

 purpose. 



The agricultural character of the soil underlaid by the lime- 

 stones and Utica slate in the county, does not vary materially, 

 except where these are deeply covered by drift; being well adapted 

 for the growth of the various kinds of grain, but more particularly 

 for grass. 



The dairy interests, the raising of cattle for market, and sheep 

 husbandry, therefore occupy a prominent place in the agriculture 

 of Lewis county, and must continue to do so from the nature of 

 the soil and our inability to compete with the grain growing dis- 

 tricts of the west. The soil underlaid by the Loraine shales is 

 still less adapted to the growth of grain, but is yet productive in 

 grass, and forms an excellent dairy land; while the soil of the 

 gray sandstone is cold and unproductive, and as yet but little 

 cultivated. 



The region underlaid by this rock is yet almost entirely a wil- 

 derness; covered by swamps of tamarack and balsam lir, and by 

 beaver meadows, with intervening districts susceptible of cultiva- 

 tion. The prevailing timber is spruce (Abies nigra,) and hemlock, 

 (A. canadensis) intermixed with beech, birch, maple and ash. 

 The balsam fir tree is abundant on the borders of swamps and 

 beaver meadows; giving with its conical mass of evergreen foli- 

 age, a peculiar character to the scenery of the wilderness. 



It is interesting to note the connection between the underlaying 

 rock, and the state of cultivation of the soil above it. The primi- 

 tive portion of Lewis county is still in a great measure covered 

 with the primeval forest, into which civilization has everywhere 

 forced its way several miles, exhibiting almost uniformly half 

 cleared and half cultivated fields, with miserable roads, and pov- 

 erty, dwelling in log cabins. 



