OF ARKANSAS. 



203 



shrinking of the underlying argillaceous strata; and in part, from the 

 slumbering effects of former earthquake action. 



The other mystery which aided in drawing attention to this locality, the 

 decay of the tops of the trees, may be explained from the fact, thai the 

 soil has been washed away from their hasr into these cracks, and they are 

 left rooted merely in gravel. Thus deprived of sufficient nourishment, 

 the languid sap fails to reach the top, and the upper branches naturally 

 decay first. 



Where the hills are of sufficient height, a bed of waterworn horn- 

 stone and chert-gravel is superimposed on the quaternary sand and clay. 

 The pebbles are from one to three inches in diameter; occasionally in 

 some of these are found fragments of carboniferous fossils. 



Beneath this graved bed, a ferruginous conglomerate, or pudding stone, 

 sometimes occurs in sheets of two or more inches in thickness. This is 

 the only instance of finding a hard cemented rock in any portion of 

 Greene county, within the scope of my observation. 



In the stratum of potter's clay (c) at Mr. Payne's shaft, were found a 

 few specimens of the leaves of oaks (quercus), and willow (salix), which 

 belong undoubtedly to species now living. No other organic remains 

 were observed: but I have no doubt that if good exposures of this bed 

 were accessible, some associate land or fresh- water shells might be dis- 

 covered. 



Minora/ and Agricultural Resources. 



Though no metallic ores proper have yet been found in the northern 

 part of Greene county, I consider the selenite bed (b) near Mr. Payne's of 

 great importance, in an agricultural point of view; and it may hereafter 

 be the source of no inconsiderable revenue to the county. It occurs in 

 beautiful, small, transparent crystals, abundantly distributed through the 

 clay, which itself contains soda, potash, and perhaps, phosphates and 

 nitrates, forming a combination which will be applicable as a mineral 

 fertilizer to a great variety of soils. 



The underlying stratum (c) will afford a good, cheap, red, as well as 

 yellow paint; for, by simple burning, the yellow ochre is converted into a 

 red ochre; this latter can be used as a dyestufF for coarse cloth and 

 varn. 



Potter's clay is in great abundance, and of excellent quality for com- 

 mon ware. 



In the absence of more durable rocks, the ferruginous conglomerate 

 may be used for the underpining of houses, building chimneys and walling 

 up wells. 



