the obvious fact, that the soil of the island is formed by a detritus, either 

 raised from the bed of the sea, or cast upon the pebbly beach by the waters 

 of the Hudson and the streams of Connecticut. The process by which the 

 island may have been formed by this accretion, can at this day be con- 

 stantly traced upon the sand reefs, which Providence has caused to be 

 thrown up along the southern coast of the island, forming a vast natural 

 breakwater, to which the low shore of the island owes its only protection 

 from the surges of the ocean. The sea-sands first accumulate ; upon these 

 spring the coarse aquatic grasses, and these, in the memory of man, are 

 succeeded by a nutritious vegetation. Such may have been the operations 

 of nature, by which the uniform soil I have described was gradually spread 

 like a mantle over the surface of the island. I was informed of a singular 

 geological formation, which I was not able, however, to examine. This is 

 a horizontal stratum of soil, about half a mile wide, ranging in a course 

 northeast and southwest, through parts of the towns of Oyster Bay and 

 Hempstead, and from its peculiar color, known as the "Red ground." It 

 is enclosed on the west by a black earth, and on the east by the prevailing 

 yellow soil. This red stratum is said to be remarkably fertile. 



It is not necessary to invoke the aid of science, to determine the singular 

 identity of the elements of the soil throughout the whole island. I col- 

 lected specimens from the cultivated farms near Brooklyn, Smithtown, and 

 on the south shore, and from the Hempstead plains and the Bush plains in 

 various places. These specimens are deposited at the Society's rooms, and 

 any person, by inspection, will readily determine their remarkable simi- 

 larity. 



Climate. — The climate of Long Island is distinguished for its mildness 

 and salubrity. These qualities become more apparent as the surface is 

 opened by improvement to the circulation of air and the influence of the 

 sun. Mr. Thompson states that the thermometer rarely falls to zero, or 

 rises to ninety degrees of Fahrenheit. Its insular form, bathes the island 

 perpetually in a marine atmosphere, which imparts a genial moisture, while, 

 as I have remarked, the sea breezes mitigate the rigors of winter, and 

 relieve the intense heat of summer. The influence of the Gulf stream I 

 have already referred to, and I may add that this influence is augmented 

 by the marked prevalence of southerly winds. The frost penetrates the 

 earth only in a slight degree, and the surface is seldom covered by snow 

 more than a few weeks in the season. 



I found it to be the general impression with intelligent men, that the 

 farmers of Long Island enjoy, on account of the mild temperature of the 

 climate, an average of about forty working days in the year, more than 

 those above the Highlands. This is a fact of great significance, in esti- 

 mating the value of these lands for agricultural purposes. 



It seems to be admitted that the island rarely suffers from drouth. The 

 sea air, always charged with moisture, constantly refreshes vegetation. 

 The Rev. Mr. Johnson spoke of the extraordinary dews which charac- 

 terize the island, and which, he remarked, are not unfrequently so heavy 



