70 QUARTERLY JOURNAl.. 



these marl beds has not been appreciated as yet, inasmuch as now 



of the farmers in the neighborhood have used the material upor 



their lands. The subsoil of Cortland is a gravelly drift, perviou- 



to water ; though the soil cannot be said to be leechy. The sur 



rounding hills a^re well rounded, and extremely well adapted to al 



kinds of farming except wheat, which for several years has ne 



been cultivated extensively. Cortland, you will perceive, is sout) 



of the wheat shales and limestones ; and among the drift, there ' 



not a sufficiency of calcareous gravel, nor of the debris of shale, 



give character to the soil. It is therefore made up of the harde 



sandstone rocks, and the shales of the rock beneath, which i 



almost entirely destitute of lime. I may here say that it will com 



to this finally, that farmers in this part of the State will requii 



lime and ashes to renovate their lands. Springs of excellei 



water gush out in numerous places in the plains about Cortland 



but it is an interesting fact, that in the southwest extension of t] 



valley, it is quite difficult to procure water, probably in cons 



quence of the drainage towards the village, or to the northeas 



and the depth of the pervious stratum of drift. Farmers shou 



always have an eye to the drainage of the country, and thi 



should be able to determine in connection with this pomt, whetb 



there is an impervious stratum near the surface, to throw out t 



water. This is very essential where there are no living spria 



in the immediate neighborhood of a proposed settlement. 



would please me in this connection to speak of the excell^ 



social and religious qualities of the people of Cortland, but iti 



rather out of my sphere of observation, which I have prescrib 



myself. It is proper to say, however, that Cortlandville, as w 



as Homer, a mile and a half northwest, are settled mostly 



New -England people, and have all their institutions in the m^ 



flourishing condition— churches, schools, academies, &c. 



Immediately after my arrival. Judge Bartlett, our present Sei. 

 tor, gave me a warm reception, and though laboring under 

 health, took me in his carriage to all the interesting spots witJ 

 six miles of the village, and what was worthy of commem 

 dation, waited with great patience for me to gather the rocks a 

 their characteristic fossils, and which it may be well to say, i 

 those of the Chemung group. 



As soon as I had taken this general survey of Cortland. 



