MODIFIED DRIFT ALONG CONNECTICUT RIVER. 21 
sides, is usually a half to a mile and a half wide. It is very simple, hav- 
ing two heights, and consists of the present flood-plain, bordered by 
remnants of that which filled the valley in the Champlain period. The 
former is about ten feet above low water, being annually overflowed by 
the floods of spring. This would be called dottom-land in the western 
United States. In New England it is commonly termed izéerval,; but 
along Connecticut river it is frequently known as meadow. On all our 
large rivers this lowest terrace has a firm and well-drained surface, much 
different from the marshy areas bordering small streams to which the 
name meadow is restricted in other parts of the state. It is the most 
valuable portion of these alluvial lands, having a more finely-pulverized 
and more fertile soil than that of the higher terraces. The ancient flood- 
plain is here represented by a lateral terrace, from 40 to 120 feet above 
the river, usually remaining at both sides, and in many places forming 
considerable plains. 
From West Stewartstown to Colebrook the only alluvium of impor- 
tance on the New Hampshire side is the interval; but small remnants of 
the upper terrace are found, especially where there is a tributary stream. 
On the Vermont side the upper terrace, composed of sand or fine gravel, 
is usually well shown, having a nearly constant but small elevation of 40 
to 60 feet above the river, with which it slopes. It appears that this 
formerly had possession of the whole valley, and that the channelling of 
the river has swept it away from the area now occupied by the interval 
or meadows. Portions of 
fe} 
3 3 8 ba 8 nw. 6 
it still remain, entirely sur- $2 88g FS E. 
Ww. 
rounded by the low flood- 1000 ft 
. ee ee eee ee wa eaden above sea. 
plain. Such a plateau may Fig. 1.—SECTION IN CANAAN AND STEWARTSTOWN. 
be seen in Canaan, nearly Length, # of a mile. 
opposite the south line of Stewartstown. The upper terrace and its 
isolated remnant have both a height of 40 feet above the river, while the 
lower level is only 15 feet in height. North-east from this in Stewarts- 
town a rivulet has effected a like result on a small scale in the meadow, 
cutting a channel wholly around a small area which still preserves the 
height of the rest of the meadow. 
Kames. At Colebrook we find an interesting gravel ridge or kame, 
portions of which remain north of the junction of Beaver brook and 
