10 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THE TERRITORIES. 



was 250 iiounds. I tbiuk it nofc improbable that a company with a large 

 capital, and employing- all the improved methods of manufacturing the 

 salt, would succeed. The salt is said to be good, though not as strong 

 as the common salt of commerce. 



The best building-stone, yet observed in the State occurs iu the south- 

 ern portion of Lancaster County. The quarries have been opened, and 

 several line houses built of the stone. The rocks are of the Permo-Oar- 

 boniferous, or Upper Carboniferous age, and are usually called magnesian 

 limestones ; are very durable, easily wrought, and make most beautiful 

 building material. There is also plenty of potters' clay, sand, and all 

 the materials for the manufacture of brick without limit. 



THE CULTIVATION OF FRUIT AND FOREST TREES. 



I think a sufficient number of experiments have already been made in 

 this western country to show clearly that the forests may be restored 

 to these almost treeless prairies in a comparatively short period of time. 

 There are certain trees v/hich are indigenous to the country, and which 

 grow with great rapidity under the influence of cultivation. I have 

 giveu special attention to this matter, in accordance with your instruc- 

 tion, and shall continue to do so throughout the period of the survey. 

 About four miles west of Ohama City Mr. Griffin, an intelligent farmer, 

 has planted about forty acres of forest-trees, which are now in a fine 

 condition of growth. I have obtained as many measurements as possi- 

 ble, in order that my statements might have their proper weight. The 

 common cotton-wood of the country/ grows everywhere finely, on upland 

 or lowland. I would remark here that Mr. Griffin's experiment is ren- 

 dered more emphatic from the fact that he chose one of the highest points 

 in the vicinity ot Omaha, 000 feet above the water-line of the Missouri 

 Eiver. 



The soil is the usual yellow siliceous marl of this region, which is re- 

 garded by Lyell and other geologists as the American equivalent of the 

 Loess of the Ehiue, which is so well adapted to the culture of the grape. 

 The indigenous trees of the country all do well, as might be expected, 

 aud many others which have never been found in the West grow ra^fidly 

 and healthfully. The trees most in cultivation are the indigenous ones, 

 as the cotton-wood, fPopulus monilifera^) softuiaple, (Acer rubrumj elm, 

 f UhmisamericanaJ bass-wood, or linden, f TiliaamericanaJ black-walnut, 

 (JugJans nigra J honey-locust, fGleditscMa tricanthiisj and several vari- 

 eties of willows. 



At Mr. Griffin's farm I found cotton-wood trees, ten years' growth, 

 with a circumference of 2 feet 11 inches, 30 feet high ; seven years' 

 growth, with a circumference of 2 feet; seven years' growth, with a cir- 

 cumference of 2 feet 6 inches ; soft maple, ten years' growth, with a cir- 

 cumference of 2 feet 8 inches ; soft maple, seven years' growth, with a 

 circumference of 1 foot 10 inches ; soft maple, seven years' growth, with 

 a circumference of 2 feet 1 inch, 15 feet high ; common locust, ten years' 

 growth, with a circumference of 2 feet, 15 feet high; honey-locust, ten 

 years' growth, 1 foot 8 inches; black-walnut, ten years' growth, with a 

 circumference of 12 inches, 15 feet high; black- walnut, ten years' growth, 

 with a circumference of 13 inches, 15 feet high. 



At Dr. Enos Lowe's place, nearOraaha, about 300 feetabove the water- 

 line of the Missouri, cotton-wood trees, ten years' growth, circumference 2 

 feet 6 inches, 40 feet high ; cotton-wood trees, ten years' growth, circum- 

 ference 2 feet 4| inches, 25 feet high ; cotton-wood trees, ten years' growth, 

 circumference 2 feet 5 inches ; cotton-wood trees, ten years' growth, 



