96 Agricultural Manual 



TOPOGRAPHY AND NATURAL CHARACTERISTICS 



Along the Hudson are narrow alluvial flats bordered by a series 

 of bluffs from 100 to 200 feet high. From these bluffs a plateau 

 extends westward to the Helderbergs. Beyond, sloping gradually 

 toward the west and south, are irregular plateaus. The alluvial 

 lands along the Mohawk are bordered by bluffs from which a 

 rolling plateau extends -back to the center. Nearly all of the 

 streams that flow into the Hudson have worn deep gorges, many 

 of which are 100 feet deep -and extend from a quarter of a mile 

 to several miles back from the river. 



Topographically the county may be divided into two general 

 divisions, a more or less level tableland occupying the northern 

 third of the county and a rough, hilly, or mountainous section 

 occupying the western and southwestern portions. A well-defined 

 line separating these two areas is formed by the Helderberg 

 Mountains, which begin in the northwest corner of the county and 

 extend southeast almost to the river at the southern boundary. 



The Helderberg Mountains are generally low and are prin- 

 cipally of limestone formation. In the vicinity of these mountains, 

 and in some cases on top of them, there is considerable limestone 

 soil. This is the best soil in the county, and is particularly 

 adapted to the growing of alfalfa, legumes, and fruit. The soil 

 lying on the top and back of the Helderbergs varies greatly in 

 character. In some places the limestone soil prevails, while in 

 others there is a stony loam lying on the top of a tight clay. 

 In still other sections the soil is a loose stony or gravelly loam. 

 There is also a very small amount of Volusia silt loam in this 

 hilly section. 



The section below the Helderbergs was formerly a lake bottom, 

 and consequently is much varied in character. Fully one-third 

 of the area is made up of a light sand, which in some places is 

 so light that it blows about and is practically worthless from an 

 agricultural standpoint. The balance of the soil varies from a 

 sand to a heavy clay, the clay being found along the banks of 

 the Hudson River, the Xormans Kill, and other streams. This 

 clay is heavily impregnated with lime, which renders it a very 

 desirable soil for the growth of legumes, particularly where the 

 contour is such as to admit of good drainage. 



