276 Agricultural -Manual 



towns. This low region is bounded on the south by a limestone 

 terrace 2-0 to 60 feet high extending from Black Rock east 

 through the southern part of Amherst, Clarence, and Newstead. 

 A nearly level region extending south from the summit of this 

 ridge embraces the city of Buffalo and the towns of Cheektowaga, 

 Lancaster, and Alden, and terminates in the rolling region which 

 occupies the entire central part of the county. The ridges in the 

 center and south have a general north and south direction, rising 

 gradually toward the south, their highest summits attaining an 

 elevation of 1,400 to 1,600 feet above tide. The highlands are 

 divided into several distinct ridges by the valleys of Cazenavia and 

 Eighteenmile creeks. The slopes of the hills are generally long 

 and gradual, although in some places the banks bordering the 

 streams are very steep. The land along the lake is low and level 

 in the north, rising in the south in steep banks from twenty to fifty 

 feet high. Niagara River, which forms a portion of the western 

 boundary of the county, is divided by Grand Island into two 

 nearly equal branches. Several other islands in the Niagara River 

 are within the limits of this county. 



The principal streams in the county are Ellicott, Cayuga, 

 Buffalo, Eighteenmile, and Cazenovia creeks. Tonawanda Creek 

 forms the northern, and Cattaraugus Creek the southern, bound- 

 ary of the county. 



The soil in the north is generally a clay loam interspersed with 

 beds of marl and muck. Further south it is a clayey and gravelly 

 loam resting on limestone. In. he south the soil on the hills is 

 drift, principally clay and gravel. In the valleys it is generally 

 a gravelly loam and alluvium. 



DESCRIPTION BY TOWNSHIPS 

 Alden: The surface in the west is level, and gently undulating 

 in the east. The soil is deep and fertile, and is generally sandy, 

 gravelly, and clayey loam. 



Products: Potatoes, corn, beans, hay and dairy products. 

 Average values of farm land range from $G0 to $125 an 

 acre. 



Amherst : The surface is level. Tonawanda Creek forms its 

 northern boundary, and smaller creeks flow across the town in a 



