CHAMPLAIN DIVISION. 129 



dated state, it is in a better condition for building, and architectural and economical purposes. 

 In this direction, it is largely developed in Camden, Florence and Oswego, and still more 

 largely in Mexico, New-Haven, Scriba, and Redfield. The most perfect exhibition of the 

 gray sandstone mass is upon the Salmon river, where it appears in the three falls of the 

 river, and the rock is exposed for more than one hundred feet. It disappears about two 

 miles west of Oswego village, beneath the Medina sandstone. 



§11. Physical character of the surface of the country underlaid by the champlain 



GROUP. 



There is nothing very peculiar or striking in the region underlaid by the Champlain 

 division. The surface is generally hilly, or rather undulating. The hills are not steep 

 or rugged, neither are they bare of vegetation. The soil upon the limestone, and even 

 upon the Potsdam sandstone, when thin, is not washed off in consequence of the steepness 

 of the surfaces. All the rocks embraced in this division occupy comparatively a low level, 

 not having been forced upward so as to reach mountain heights ; and where they rest im- 

 mediately upon the primary, they are merely broken up, but do not then form a rugged 

 country. 



In the annexed plate (PI. 2) I have given a view of the scenery of these rocks, or rather 

 a characteristic view of a large portion of the territory underlaid by them. It is perhaps 

 more peculiar to the Mohawk valley, but it is intended also to convey a general idea of 

 the vegetation of this region, which forms rather a contrast with that of the Genesee 

 valley, as will appear on comparing the view at Amsterdam with that near Mount Auburn 

 at Rochester. The peculiarity is seen in the difference existing in the growth of the elms : 

 in the former valley, they are comparatively small, with pendulous branches; while in 

 the latter, they are tall, with a straight trunk and a heavy overshadowing head. This is 

 undoubtedly owing to the deep clays charged with the alkalies ; and wherever we find 

 those enormous but splendid elms, we may invariably see the indications of an excellent 

 wheat soil. 



§ 12. Agricultural relations of the champlain division. 



I do not propose to speak particularly of the soils of the district which I have named 

 the Hudson-river district, and which in the main corresponds or belongs to this series of 

 rocks. The first observation which strikes me as important, is that the soil is uniformly 

 coarse. This is particularly the case with the shales and slates, which break up by the 

 action of the weather into small angular pieces, and frequently fill the soil. The ten- 

 dency, however, is to become finer by cultivation and stirring ; but where the rock is 

 near the surface, new layers are broken up as often as it is ploughed, and a supply is thus 

 continually furnished. These pieces keep the soil open, which, without them, would in 

 process of time become too compact. The limestones, except where they are shaly, are 

 but little affected by the weather : hence but little calcareous matter is furnished by them 

 [Agricultural Report.] 17 



