GEOLOGICAL REPORT. 23 



who have so faithfully devoted their labor and their money to 

 promote this important department of husbandry in our midst ; 

 for the time is not far distant when the " poor flint ridges " 

 and terraced slopes of Southern Missouri will be as valuable 

 for vineyards as some of them are now for their rich mineral 

 deposits ; when the vineyards of Pulaski and La Clede will 

 compete in golden profits with the hemp farms of Lafayette 

 and Platte ; and the vine-clad hills of the beautiful Meramec 

 and the Gasconade will vie in wealth with the leaden veins of 

 Potosi and Granby. 



It will thus be seen that even the poorest soils and those in 

 the most broken parts of this country will become very valua- 

 ble for the culture of the grape. And I might add that their 

 value for vineyards will increase in about the same ratio as 

 their fitness for the other departments of husbandry decreases. 



ABSTRACTS FROM THE COUNTY REPORTS OP DR. B. F. SHUMARD. 



" Crawford County. This county presents great variety of 

 surface, from level or moderately rolling prairie, and ' oak 

 openings,' to rough, rocky hills with abrupt and uneven slopes. 

 The soil varies from rich alluvial bottom land to productive or 

 nearly sterile upland. On the northern side of the dividing 

 ridge, on which is located the Pacific Railroad, the country con- 

 sists of moderately rolling or level oak openings and prairie, 

 traversed by numerous beautiful prairie valleys, bounded by 

 gentle hills from eighty to one hundred and fifty feet high, the 

 whole presenting a most desirable region for the agriculturalist. 



" On the southern side of this ridge the topographical fea- 

 tures of the country are quite different. Near the Meramec 

 and its principal affluents, Huzza, Crooked and Dry creeks, the 

 surface is often extremely rough and rocky, and the hills from 

 one to four hundred feet in height. But on the summits of these 

 ridges we frequently find extensive tracts of nearly level, post 

 oak, black oak, and hickory lands, which are capable of being 

 cultivated to good advantage. The alluvial bottoms of all the 

 principal streams are broad, extremely productive, and very 

 heavily timbered. 



"Phelps County. In its general features this county is very 

 similar to the preceding. It is generally rolling, and possesses 



