242 TACONIC DISTRICT. 



2. TACONIC DISTRICT. 



The textute of the soils of the Highland or Primary districts is coarse, and the quantity 

 of finely divided matter is evidently deficient. The soils derived from the Taconic rocks 

 are finer than those of the Primary, and, as will appear, have been found to contain a 

 greater proportion of finely divided matter, and yet they are inferior in this respect to the 

 soils of Central and Western New-York, which are derived from rocks of a later date. 

 The cause of the difference observed between the texture of the soils of these districts, is 

 to be sought for in their origin. The first are derived from hard rocks, only a small pro- 

 portion of which decompose rapidly ; while the latter are derived from sedimentary rocks, 

 more susceptible to atmospheric influence ; and hence they not only disintegrate more 

 rapidly, but undergo, or have undergone, a more thorough change. If there were no 

 other differences in the soil than that of texture, that which contained the greatest amount 

 of finely divided matter would possess an advaiUage over the coarse or primary soils. One 

 cause of superiority consists in the power which finely divided matter possesses, in the 

 facility of absorption of the floating gases of the atmosphere. Finely divided platina will 

 absorb and condense hydrogen so rapidly and copiously, when blown upon it in a stream, 

 as to beget a red heat, and inflame the gas instantaneously. Charcoal absorbs most kinds 

 of gaseous matter. Fine soils readily absorb carbonate of ammonia from rain water ; a 

 fact which has been long known with respect to the finer clays. The absorption of ammonia 

 is indeed an important fact, and we have often detected it in common soils when they have 

 been submitted to the action of rain water. The amount which a given soil can absorb 

 and retain, is proportional to its amount of finely divided matter. The ammonia is un- 

 doubtedly often combined with the organic acids, the crenic and apocrenic. Ammonia itself 

 operates favorably on the organic matter of the soil, the rationale of which is illustrated 

 every day in the laboratory, where it is employed in dissolving out the organic matters. 

 Clays contain the largest proportion of this substance, undoubtedly absorbed in solution 

 with water. Even anthracite coal contains a large amount, which has been stored up for 

 ages, and is separated from it when water is thrown upon an ignited mass. 



There is another fact which may be noticed here, namely, that although loams and 

 porous soils must receive from rains the same amount of ammonia as the finer soils, they 

 have less ability for retaining it, or at least for storing it up. 



The first inquiry in regard to the soils of this district, respects their chemical constitution. 

 In pursuing this subject, it has been found that though some differences exist, still they 

 are not remarkably different : they appear to belong to one class, and to possess essential 

 characters in common. Some of the differences observed in crops arise from elevation, or 

 the combined effects of elevation and other causes connected necessarily therewith. To 

 preserve order in the several statements of the analyses, we shall begin with those upon 

 the eastern bojdcr of the State, adjacent to Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont. 



