Mr. Pierce on the Alluvial District of New- Jersey. 241 



there located in this region of wood. The soi], except on 

 the borders of creeks, is pretty uniformly sandy. 



Adjacent to the Delaware river and bay and the sea coast, 

 there are wide tracts of salt meadow which are in a few 

 places improved by embankments. The climate near the 

 coast is so mild that herds of cattle subsist through the win- 

 ter upon these meadows, and in the neighboring thickets, 

 without expense to the proprietors. Cattle range the forest 

 in a wild slate. Deer, foxes and rabbits are numerous, and 

 wolves and bears are sometimes seen in the wilds of New- 

 Jersey. Much fine wood is shipped to Philadelphia and 

 New-York from this region. 



The peninsula, four fifths of which is now a useless waste, 

 might by proper cultivation be rendered very productive. 

 Its situation between the two largest cities of America, and 

 nearly environed by navigable waters, would enable the in- 

 hab'tants readily to bring their produce to a good market. 

 A tract of a few miles in width from the sea-board might 

 be improved by marl, sea weed, fish, Sic; the remainder 

 by gypsum, which is adapted for sandy soils. Pine lands, 

 situated in the counties of Columbia, Albany and Saratoga, 

 and other parts of the State of New-York of a similar char- 

 acter with those of New-Jersey, have been rendered very 

 valuable by gypsum and rotations of crops, often producing 

 from twenty to twenty-five bushels of wheat to the acre. 

 The sandy soil is in time changed to a rich vegetable mould 

 — gypsum would probably render the pine lands of the 

 southern states productive. 



The climate of New-Jersey is well adapted for grain, In- 

 dian corn, fruit and melons. Cotton might perhaps be there 

 naturalized and profitably cultivated. 



Herds of cattle and sheep can be supported at little ex- 

 pense. The sea- coast is said to be favorable for the pro- 

 duction of good mutton and wool. 



The creeks and rivers of the peninsula are not numerous 

 or considerable — they are generally bordered by a rich 

 soil. 



Salt may be advantageously manufactured on the islands 

 and low Atlantic shore of New-Jersey, by evaporating sea- 

 water. 



Extensive beds of the variety of argillaceous oxide of 

 iron called bog-ore, are common in the south-western part 



Vol. VI.— INo. 2. 31 



