82 Eeport of the State Geologist. 



The " Cranberry Swamp" is almost entirely a forest, growing 

 in black muck, into which I easily thrust a stick three feet ; it is 

 said to be much deeper in places. The timber is that character- 

 istic of such places — elm, soft maple, etc. By consent among 

 the owners it might doubtless be drained at a reasonable expense. 



In connection with this subject it may be added, that beneath 

 the layers of muck a heavy deposit of marl is often found, com- 

 posed entirely of minute fragments of modern shells. In the 

 Montezuma marshes, it is found along river beds, in places, 10 or 

 12 feet thick; its thickness diminishes on receding from the 

 rivers, and at last only the underlying bed of clay remains. 

 Valuable as this material is for a fertilizer, it has been found that 

 the expense of seeking it under four feet of muck is sufficient to 

 prevent its extensive use. 



Springs. 



The writer has not found recorded analyses of any spring in 

 Seneca county, excepting the statement that the gas escaping 

 from the Canoga spring is pure nitrogen. 



This spring forms a pool occupying a long oval basin of 30 x 90 

 feet, more or less sunk six feet below the plain. The bottom is 

 covered with sand, through which the water boils up with occa- 

 sional bubbles of the gas. The taste is that of other good well water 

 of the region, viz.: slightly limy, like Seneca lake water. Within a 

 stone's throw a ledge of Upper Helderberg limestone crosses the 

 road. A considerable flow was noticed at the dryest time of the 

 severe drought of 1895. The stream has supplied power to two 

 mills, one of which is disused. Springs of iron and sulphur are 

 found in the low grounds at Canoga. 



A spring of sulphurous odor was tasted in a ravine half way 

 between Willard and Lodi, north of Highland station. Other 

 than the slight odor there was little t j remark ; the taste was 

 pleasant. This spring is reported to have been formerly used 

 for medicinal purposes by. visitors resorting to the place. 



The taste of iron is noticed in isolated cases in the country 

 well water. Good water is characteristic especially of the Port- 

 age and the Upper Helderberg districts. In the northern part of 

 the county the water is occasionally brackish. 



