312 AGRTCrLTURAL MrsET'k 



es and sliniitbf^ry. atvl al! j)lauts whose roofs do not ex- 

 tend very deep, like the roots of forest trees. The 

 rocks on nliieh this soil is bedded, and whjo in this re- 

 gion project ai)ove the surface, are generally found in 

 regular strata, and shew signs of having heeti deposited 

 by th.t water, in ages when they were bathed by the 

 ccean. The calcareous rocks, viz : LiiDc stone and 

 marble, appear to have been batiks of marl, ^\hose slu ils 

 have had suIHcient time to pulverize e(.ni])!etely, and to 

 agglutinate and petrify ; they frequently riliow th.e remains 

 and impression of shel's, in theii' infeiinr and extei ior 

 parts, and are straiiiied in the jnanaer in which the S'-a 

 makes her deposits. Th.e sehisti apjjcar to be depositi- 

 ons of vegetable matter, biought down either by th.e rains 

 and torrents, aiul collected in valli6s, or deposited by ihe 

 ocean in strata. Tiu' f'.Jim 'riri'i impression, and sometimes 

 thr remains of Vegetables afe fi'equently observed in slate 

 and pit coai ; and the otiier rocks metitionco, appear to 

 result from the earthy deposits of the ocean. The order 

 in which these depositL-. arc made, is sometimes deranged 

 by the ccnvulsions of nature ; but they, would ingeie- 

 ral form a f)asis for the ciassiiication and division of the 

 soils of this region. My opportunities are too few to 

 enable me to trace them vvi'ih any precision, or to shew 

 with sufficient clearness, the places wh.ich these respect- 

 ive rocks generally oeeup\ in this regiun. But as nature 

 acts upon invariable laws, with unifoi m regularity, there 

 is no dou it that it may be done, and will be done, as s< on 

 as agi ieuitnre becomes an object of the first importance 

 with the naturalist and the lovers of Science. 



In this region there is less pine, less cedar, less resin- 

 ous w ood of any kind tlum ni tbf region herein called 

 alluvial; moie oak. njore kinds of oily nut trees, vvl.ich 

 generally have very hard wood ; but thoe last are more 

 frequent as you approach the mouuiainous region 



Si' LV AM us* 



