QUATERNARY DEPOSITS. 229 



Mr. Hug, near Adams' saw-mill, in Spencer, Tioga county ; on Tipple's farm, three miles 

 southwest of Verona ; and on the farm of Mr. Shed, to the south of Truxton. At this latter 

 place it is in pebble-like particles, distributed through the soil over an area of several acres. 



At all the uplifts, by the side of the calciferous rock, and where fractures existed in the 

 limestone rocks along the Mohawk, this kind of ore was common, appearing as an exudation 

 from the rock. 



Peat or Muck. 



This is an exceedingly common, and in many parts of the district a very abundant pro- 

 duct, constantly forming in certain low situations. The condition for its production appears 

 to be permanent moisture, or rather water ; and where this is made to flow oflF by drainage, 

 it ceases to accumulate. Where peat exists, the soil or subsoil upon which it rests is either 

 clay or marl, impermeable to water, this being an essential condition for its existence. It is 

 formed of successive growths of the same or of different kinds of vegetation, which have 

 lost life, and have changed to a brown of different shades, sometimes almost black. Usually 

 the kind of plants which fonn it can be distinguished, and again the vegetable structure only 

 is apparent. In Maine, Dt Jackson, its geologist, found peat exhibiting the compact nature 

 and color of coal. 



Though the production of peat in the first instance requires the lowest level, it is so spongy 

 and retentive of water, that by successive growrths it raises its bed and appears in mounds 

 and hillocks. This result is aided greatly by deposits of tufa, which, in several localities in 

 the third district, constantly form beneath it. Usually the surface is more or less soft, yield- 

 ing to pressure, often shaking or trembling when walked upon. 



Throughout the district, no use has yet been made of it. Its two great uses are for fuel 

 and manure. From its immeise abundance through the low grounds of Oneida, Madison, 

 Onondaga and Cajruga counties, so soon as the forests are all levelled, and a higher grade of 

 fertility of the land required, it will be in demand, the purer kinds for fuel, the others for 

 manure. 



Some of the larger deposits, and a few of the others only from their interest will be men- 

 tioned. The canal to the west of Rome shows that a large body of peat, and of good quality, 

 exists there. The same is seen it Cowasolon swamp, appearing to be much the largest body 

 in the district. By the road fron Chittenango village, it shows in a ditch that at least two 

 successive growths of tamarisk eiisted on its border, the lower one underlaid with lake marl. 



The digging of the enlarged canal between Canton and BeUisle, shows a considerable 

 deposit of peat, of six or more feet in thickness. It shows also, in some parts, alternations 

 of marl, the latter in very thin layers. 



The alluvial flat below Little-Falls shows, by the ditches which have been cut through it, 

 that it is underlaid in part with peat. 



It was noticed also in the valley of Cherry- Valley, on the land of Dr. Campbell ; thickness 



