262 Agricultural Manual 



northern extremity of the Highlands, begin at the extreme south- 

 west corner of the county. Breakneck Ridge rises abruptly at 

 this point from the Hudson River as a bold promontory and 

 extends south to the highest point on South Beacon, 1,635 feet 

 above the Hudson. Along the eastern border extends the Taconic 

 Mountains, which rise from 300 to 500 feet above the valleys and 

 1.000 to 1.200 feet above tide. South of Tenmile River is a 

 high, broad, rolling glaciated ridge known as Quaker Hill. 



The three main valleys in the county extending from northeast 

 to southwest are as follows: Wappinger valley, which extends 

 entirely through the county from Pine Plains to New Ham- 

 burgh; the valley of Fishkill Creek in the towns of Fishkill and 

 East Fishkill, which divides a1 Hopewell Junction into two forks; 

 and the valley extending the whole length of the county parallel to 

 the eastern boundary and but a few miles distant, occupied by 

 Tenmile River and its tributaries. This valley is really a continu- 

 ation of the Harlem valley from the south. These valleys are pre- 

 glacial and are characterized by flat gravelly terraces and by long 

 narrow ridges with frequent outcropping ridges. The pre-glacial 

 valleys have been partially filled, whereby ponds and small lakes 

 or swampy and meadow areas have been formed. The greater part 

 of the streams in the county are tributary to the Hudson of which 

 the principal ones are Crum Elbow, Fallkill, Wappinger, and 

 Fishkill creeks. Numerous small lakes give rise to these streams. 



The principal rock formation in the county is Dutchess slate, 

 which crops out on the hills and along the courses of the streams. 

 The soil is generally a tine quality of silt and slate loam, with 

 frequent areas of limestone. 



DESCRIPTION BY TOWNSHIPS 



Amenta: The surface is broken and hilly along the eastern 

 border and rolling in the western part. A wide valley extends 

 through the center, the Tenmile River flowing through the south- 

 ern part. The soil is a silty loam with occasional areas of lime- 

 stone and gravel along the streams. 



Products: Milk and general farm crops. 



Average values of farm land range from $40 to $80 an acre. 



