SECRETARY'S REPORT. 185 



geological changes and changes of temperature ; and I might, 

 perhaps, be able to reconcile the view I have presented with the 

 fact, in which I have full confidence, that our earth was once 

 warmer than now, though I say, too, that it must once have 

 been much colder than now. I think I could explain, in a 

 measure, the cause of these great oscillations. I would have 

 only to recal to your mind the fact that in the Arctic drift we 

 find buried elephants, rhinoceroses, and other animals only 

 found in the tropics, to give you the full evidence that the 

 climate of the earth was once warmer than now. I ought now 

 to add, that these carcases arc found covered with flesh, and 

 that they are so well preserved that dogs and wolves have eaten 

 their flesh, to show that the changes which took place were not 

 such as to produce decomposition of these animals, (and we all 

 know what a good preserver of meats ice is,) and in that way I 

 think I could satisfy you, that chimerical as this theory may 

 appear, it is founded upon a series of well connected facts, 

 which leave no other alternative than the conclusion that this 

 Northern Hemisphere has been once covered with a sheet of ice, 

 extending from the Arctic regions to the limits where we find 

 connected drift, to latitude thirty-six ; and that it is to the 

 mechanical action of that sheet of ice we must attribute the 

 source of our soil. 



You see, ladies and gentlemen, that in considering this 

 subject, I have had to resort to a different explanation from that 

 which was given yesterday in relation to the formation of the 

 soil in more southern latitudes. I believe, we are both right, 

 although we have to attribute to so entirely different agencies 

 the production of one and the same phenomenon. 



:Mr. Perkins. — 3Ir. Chairman, I feel that this State Board of 

 Agriculture have been pleasantly together here, and that much 

 of the pleasure of these interviews has been due to the fact 

 that we have had the use of this hall for our meetings. I move 

 that the State Board of Agriculture tender to the authorities of 

 this town their sincere thanks for their liberal bestowal of the 

 use of this hall for our meetings. 



This motion passed, unanimously, and the Board adjourned, 

 sine die. 



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