SOILS. 



195 



by this class. It is a fertile soil, is easily worked, and supports a 

 dense growth of timber, 



Class VI. SUicious Sandy Soils. This class needs little atten- 

 tion here, because, in the first place, it is too well known to require 

 elaborate definition, and, in the second place, it fortunately occupies 

 so little area that it posseses no great importance in considering the 

 district as a whole. As found in this region, it had its origin in beach 

 deposits made by the lake in former times, and in drift from silicious 

 rocks. As it occurs chiefly in narrow strips surrounded or bordered 

 by clay soils, it may not on the whole prove a great disadvantage, 

 although of itself it is a sterile soil, for when it mingles with the 

 adjoining clay it produces a rich, fertile loam, better adapted to some 

 crops than the clays themselves. 



Class VII. The Calcareous Sandy Soils. My attention was first 

 called to this class by observing a heavy growth of maple aiid associ- 

 ated trees upon a sandy soil. This was so contrary to previous obser- 

 vations that it led to an examination of the sand. This showed it to 

 be composed of small crystals of dolomite mingled with a -varying 

 quantity of silicious grains. From the immediate surface the more 

 soluble dolomite has been removed, leaving the silicious sand at the 

 top in such a way as to disguise the true nature of the subsoil. This 

 surface soil is light, warm and arenaceous, but, to casual observation, 

 would give no promise of permanent fertility. The fact that the sub- 

 soil is so largely dolomitic, instead of silicious, adds not less than 

 one hundred per cent, to the value of the land. A general knowledge 

 of this fact on the part of the proprietors ought not only to add to the 

 appreciation in which their land is held, but enhance their returns by 

 guiding them in selecting those crops for which their soil is peculiarly 

 adapted. This also presents a rich field for the study of agricultural 

 problems relating to sandy and calcareous soils. This is not, however, 

 the sole occupant of any considerable area, but is freely intermingled 

 with marly clay and gravelly soils and various intermediate grades, as 

 well as the silicious variety. It is a drift soil. The calcareous sand 

 had its origin in the granular dolomites of the Niagara Group. 



Class VIII. The JIumus Soils. Under this head is grouped 

 those soils in which humus in some of its varieties, chiefiy peat and 

 swamp muck, is the predominant element, and in which the mineral 

 ingredients are largely concealed by it. The peaty soils are the type 

 of the class. In these, not only the surface but the subsoil is chiefly 

 of organic origin'. Soils simply covered with a layer of vegetable mold 

 are not here included. Almost all the swampy, and a large portion of the 

 bottom lands, are covered by this soil. But it is not so easy to define 



