14 QUARTERLY JOURNAL. 



neath. It is true that we find the debris of distant rocks in mo 

 of our soils ; yet we find that their essential character is, wit 

 some exceptions, derived from the rock near by. On the northei 

 and northwestern slope of the highlands in Franklin county, mart 

 boulders of Trenton limestone may be found, which, togeth* 

 with some of the finer matters, were brought from the Cana< 

 side, and probably this transported debris exerts some influence 

 still there is a predominance of soil from the Potsdam sandstom 

 the underlying rock of a great part of the county, particularly tl 

 northern part. In the neighborhood of Malone, immense dri 

 beds have been accumulated, in which the boulders of this sanf 

 stone always predominate. They have also been transported sout 

 and lap on to the primary masses, and modify the soil of the gr 

 nite and gneiss ; but when we penetrate deeply into this great pi 

 mary region, its distinguishing characters are derived from tl' ' 

 masses beneath. In some instances the drift current has left* 

 thing but loose boulders, which, resisting decomposition, allj 

 soil we now find is of modern or recent orierin. Narrow for 

 tions, whose strike is east and west, will usually be covered wi ' 

 a more distant soil than those whose strike is north and south, 

 this fact, we shall have occasion to speak hereafter. 



Little need be said of the northern highlands in regard to stni 

 ture. The country being either mountainous or hilly, almost lj 

 the whole surface is properly drained, or else is easily drair 

 where, from local causes, water may be retained in the subsc 

 The valleys are narrow, the hills abrupt, and there is no necess 

 of searching the peculiar structure of the rock to open a pass 

 for stagnant water. The spontaneous growth of grass is the m 

 interesting fact ; the country being best adapted to pasturage, 

 the keeping of stock for wool, butter and cheese. 



This district is, however, broken by the steepest and high 

 precipices in New- York, or indeed in all the Atlantic or Mid' 

 States. The Adirondack pass is a giant precipice. It is fee'ljlf 

 represented facing this chapter, for it is only a feeble rep' '" 

 sentation which the pencil can give. To be conceived, it m^. 

 be seen. Many minor precipices break up the country at |fii 

 sources of the Hudson, and thus diminish its value as an agrit"- 

 tural district. 



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