the island for nearly half a century ; to Mr. Harold, the intelligent secre- 

 tary of the Queens County Society, and to Mr. Bridger, of North Islip, who 

 combines with careful observation much practical experience in the culti- 

 vation of the plains. I should violate my sense of justice, were I not to 

 refer especially to the services and efforts of Doct. Edgar F. Peck, of 

 Brooklyn. From this gentleman, who for fifteen years has strenuously 

 combatted the deepest prejudices and the most unyielding opposition, in 

 his labors for the development of these lands, I have received the most 

 important aid and information. I do not hesitate, in this connection, to 

 adopt the words of an eminent gentlemen, who remarked to me : " If these 

 plain lands are reclaimed and brought into successful culture, the result 

 must be attributed to the zeal and intelligence of Dr. Peck, more than to 

 any other cause." The convictions of Dr. Peck, as to the qualities of these 

 lands, were derived from personal investigation, commenced in 1841, and 

 subsequent results have fully confirmed the views then formed. 



Long Island combines, perhaps, more peculiar and decided advantages 

 for residence, than any other district of our widely-extended territory. 

 The Gulf stream, approaching near to its coast, imparts to the climate a 

 delightful temperature, that exempts it from the rigors incident to a north- 

 ern latitude ; surrounded by the ocean, it rarely suffers from intense heat 

 or droughts ; it is almost under the shadow of the towers of New York, 

 and enjoys every facility of access to its market. Under such circum- 

 stances, the Island should exhibit the aspect of one prolonged cultivated 

 farm, and orchard, and garden, smiling throughout its whole area, in that 

 exuberance of beauty and culture, which so eminently mark some sections 

 of its territory. These great and marked advantages early attracted the 

 attention of the emigrant, and hence, for more than two centuries. Long 

 Island has been regarded, not only by the partiality of its own people, but 

 by the public verdict and the voice of the traveler and historian, as " The 

 garden of America." This reputation, however, attaches to the island 

 from the aspect of a narrow margin along the north and south shore, and 

 small districts upon the eastern and western extremities. A very large 

 proportion of the interior has been abandoned to neglect, and is at this 

 day in a more desolate state, than it presented in its primitive condition, 

 for the stately native forest has given place to the scrubby oak and to 

 coarse and worthless vegetation. 



I can the most readily explain and illustrate my views, by presenting a 

 rapid sketch of the physical arrangement of the island, its natural capa- 

 cities, and its existing condition. The formation of Long Island, in its 

 physical and geological arrangements, is remarkable, and without any 

 parallel. It is about, one hundred miles in length, from east to west, with 

 a general width ranging from eight to twelve miles. It is divided into 

 nearly equal sections, by an elevated range of land, which traA'erses it 

 longitudinally. This ridge subsides into the plain at the east, and in the 

 vicinity of Brooklyn is broken into abrupt heights. Long Island presents 

 no analogy to any adjacent territory, but in its natural arrangement is 



