1846.] Agricultural Geology of Onondaga County. 187 



been done upon the farm of Mr. Gedtles. Many additional re- 

 marks might still be made in regard to these analyses and the 

 character of the soil, but so much space and time has been occu- 

 pied with them that we must omit these and resume the subject 

 on some other occasion. They will form in their present state a 

 sure basis for agricultural improvement. 



The subjects which remain for consideration relate to the topo- 

 graphy, temperatiu'e and mean annual quantity of water which 

 falls in this part of the state. 



1. Topography. — Upon this subject it will be necessary to be 

 brief. The county is divided into two parts — the plain or level, 

 and the hilly parts. The first (which is only comparatively 

 so), forms the part north of the Erie canal. The latter — south of 

 it. The first is underlaid by the soft rocks, and in some places 

 has been deeply excavated and the excavations filled up with 

 drift, consisting of rounded stones, pebbles and sand, the ruins of 

 primary and sedimentary rocks which exist north of the county. 

 All the elevations in this part of the county are produced by 

 accumulations of this kind. The rocks never rise above the 

 general level, still they are often near the surface. The line 

 which divides the county into two parts runs east and west near 

 the Erie canal, and very frequently the canal runs along the base 

 of the rocky terrace which is formed by the outcrop of the water 

 lime series. A good illustration of this dividing line may be 

 observed at and near Manlius Centre. The belt of country on 

 the line of the canal adjacent to this terrace, and occupying a 

 breadth of tw^o or three miles is well worthy of a particular de- 

 scription, but we have only time and space to remark that numer- 

 ous conical insulated protuberances rise up from the otherwise 

 level country. These give a peculiar feature, which is rarely met 

 with in other sections. They are due partially to the manner in 

 which the soft rocks have been destroyed, some portions of which 

 have been preserved; and upon these preserved parts, fine gravel 

 and sand, and other materials of drift, have accumulated, so as to 

 give them a rounded condition, as though they consisted entirely of 

 diluvial matter. These hills though steep and rounded, like a 



