SOUTHERN AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT. 9 



V. The Southern district is confined mostly to the southern tier of counties, lying 

 immediately north of the Pennsylvania line. I do not restrict it to this range, however : 

 it properly extends northward so as to embrace the Catskill range, with parts of the 

 counties of Delaware, Greene and Otsego. 



In height, this district attains a rank next to the Highland. The Catskill mountains 

 rise to an elevation of four thousand and fifty-eight feet ; and the range of southern coun- 

 ties rest upon a platform, which, if unscarred by aqueous action, would rise uniformly to 

 the height of two thousand feet. But this portion of New-York, which to the traveller 

 passing east and west appears so mountainous, is merely' the effect of aqueous and other 

 atmospheric agencies. No internal force or power has raised locally this section above the 

 Western district ; but the strata once piled up in increased thickness over and above the 

 upper limestones of the Helderberg, have, by the long continued and destructive action of 

 rivers and large streams, been in many places furrowed through their entire depth for 

 several miles in width, and thus the surface remains impressed with a mountainous aspect 

 Or contour. The directions in which these streams flow, or have flowed, determine the 



abundantly spread ; for doubtless thou art aware that the current which swept over this country to k a southerly 

 direction. Wherever the slate rocks were exposed to its action, a portion of them is mixed with the soil ; and near 

 such localities the land is generally less favorable* for wheat. Thus the Owasco hill in the east part of Venice is less 

 Calcareous in its character than the district lying westward. Perhaps the north bank of Salmon creek near Ludlow- 

 ville, is the southern boundary of the wheat district in this county ; although good wheat is grown on some farms 

 as far south as the head of the lake, and possibly farther. 



About twenty-five years ago, 1 travelled across the mountains to Philadelphia, and had good opportunities to ob- 

 serve the drift of our rocks in that direction. It evidently grew scarcer as I advanced ; and the fragments became 

 more worn and rounded in their progress, forming a less and less proportion of the diluvial formation. This appear- 

 ance continued into Pennsylvania about twenty miles beyond the State line, and there every trace of our rocks 

 disappeared. 



I may further remark that the people residing on this part of the Susquehanna used to supply themselves with lime 

 by gathering and burning small fragments of rounded stone from the shores, much of it not larger than gravel ; and 

 which doubtless were swept from this district. My intelligent host at Sheshequin told me that but little or none of 

 this drift was found below them, but up the river it was abundant in places. I had made similar observations on 

 former journies. 



Another circumstance may be mentioned in connection with these remarks : The mountains of Pennsylvania below 

 Sugar creek abound with the broad-leaved laurel (Kalmia latifolia) in a greater degree than I have observed in any 

 other district ; but on coming north into the drift of our rocks, the laurel disappears, except in some particular 

 localities. Thus, in a sandstone on the side of a hill about a mile north of Ithaca, where I observed no traces of 

 lime, this beautiful shrub was growing well ; while in my garden, every attempt to prolong its existence for more 

 than a year or two, has proved abortive. It has doubtless been poisoned by the lime naturally in the soil. 



Without examining the country with a special view to the southern boundary of our wheat district, we should be 

 liable to much error in drawing that line; but yet it is probable, as I have already mentioned, that Salmon creek 

 below Ludlowville, and the outlet of the Crooked lake below Pennyan in Yates county, would form parts of such a 

 line. Probably through Seneca county, it ought to curve northerly around some of the high land which lies between 

 the Cayuga and Seneca lakes. West of the Crooked lake, however, I am not acquainted, except that the country 

 appears more broken, with higher hills ; and therefore perhaps the line ought to bend more to the north. 



DAVID THOMAS. 



"Because it is less calcareous. 



[Agricultural Report.] 2 



