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, that the 
soil has been washed away from their base 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 gravel 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 rockin 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 (saliz), which 
belong undoubtedly to species now living. No other organic remains 
were observed; but Ihave no doubt that if good exposures of this bed 
were accessible, some associate land or fresh-water shells might be dis- 
covered. 
Mineral and Agricultural Resources. 
Though no metallic ores proper have yet been found in the northern 
part of Greene county, I consider the selenite bed (6) 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 asa dyestuff for coarse cloth and 
yarn. ° 
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. 
