790 Agricultural Manual 



Along the Spuyten Duyvil and Harlem River the land is generally 

 low, sinking into marshy tracts in some localities near the sound. 

 On the sound the Westchester coast is broken by numerous necks 

 and points, with corresponding inlets and coves. Throughout the 

 county are several ridges of hills parallel to the river and separated 

 by wide valleys in which are numerous streams and lakes. 



The principal streams emptying into the Hudson are the Croton 

 River ( the chief source of the old water supply of New York City), 

 Peekskill Hollow Creek, .and Pocantico and Sawmill rivers. To 

 the latter stream is due the credit for the origin of a very consid- 

 erable portion of the manufacturing industries of the county and 

 consequently, to a great extent, the building up of the city of 

 Yonkers. 



The rocks of Westchester County consist mainly of gneiss and 

 granite of many dissimilar varieties and white crystalline lime- 

 stone. At Ossining occur marble deposits which have been exten- 

 sively quarried. It was, in fact, largely for the purpose of 

 employing convict labor for the quarrying of marble that this 

 place was chosen for the site of the New York State prison. Peat 

 swamps affording a fuel of good quality not yet brought into use 

 exist in several parts of the county, notably in the town of Bedford. 

 The soil of Westchester County is greatly varied and is generally 

 of a light, sandy character. The methods of scientific farming that 

 have been pursued from very early times have rendered it highly 

 productive, although it is not remarkably fertile in its natural 

 state. Drift deposits and alluvium occur along the sound and else- 

 where, forming a rich soil. 



DESCRIPTION BY TOWNSHIPS 



Bedford: The surface is elevated and broken by small hills and 



valleys. It is almost entirely available for agricultural purposes. 



Croton River forms part of the northern boundary. The soil is 



■ ■rally a good quality of sandy and gravelly loam, but stony on 



the hills. 



The State Reformatory for Women is located within this town. 

 Products : Hay, corn, potatoes, fruit, poultry and dairy 



products. 

 Average values of farm land range from $100 to $500 an 

 acre. 



