DISTRIBUTION OF SOILS. 209 



II. DISTRIBUTION OF SOILS. 



The common agent, which is now general, and is quite effective in the distribution of 

 soils, is water. We might consider, were it necessary, the many ways by which water 

 transports soil from place to place, and the times when its action is the most powerful; 

 but it seems unnecessary to dwell upon the latter question. We need only to recognize 

 this particular power of water, for the purpose of familiarizing us with the fact that all 

 running water bears along sediment, and leaves it when the force of the current dimi- 

 nishes : the coarsest portion is deposited early; the finer is carried forwards farther, and 

 the extremely comminuted material may be moved as long as the current moves at all. 

 When it has reached the point of destination, and ceases to move forward, all the sus- 

 pended material falls to the bottom, and there forms a fine layer of sand or mud. Trans- 

 portation from the higher grounds to the lower, takes place during every rain or shower, 

 and meadow land is partially formed in this way. The higher grounds are continually 

 losing, and the lower are gaining : the former become thinner, and the latter thicker. 



We recognize a power, then, in water, to transport and carry along materials which 

 have been already separated from their parent rock : this is only an ordinary movement, 

 an almost daily operation. But we can not, if we are acquainted with all the facts bearing 

 upon this subject, regard these daily operations as the only ones by which the soil has been 

 distributed in the manner we find it over the face of the eartlL. There are evidences clear 

 and indisputable of a general movement of the soil, together with all the loose rocks, aside 

 from and in addition to the ordinary movements to which it has been subjected, which 

 can not be explained by any cause or causes now in operation. Such a movement as is 

 here alluded to has been recognized over a great part of the earth, but more especially in 

 the northern hemisphere ; and from its strongly marked features, from the indelible evi- 

 dences which this movement has left in its own characteristic phenomena, all geologists 

 now agree in stating alike the main facts by which it is known and distinguished. The 

 movement here referred to has usually been described under the name of diluvial action, 

 on the hypothesis that it took place at the time of the deluge. 



This subject may be treated under the following heads : 



1. The phenomena of diluvial action. 



2. The mode in which the soil of New- York was distributed by diluvial action. 



3. The causes of diluvial action. 



§ 1. Phenomena of diluvial action. 



Although the descriptive name, diluvial action, is retained, we do not wish to be under- 

 stood to say that the Noachian deluge had any thing to do with it : it may, or it may not, 

 have taken place at that time. We only mean to be understood, by employing these 

 words, that it was by a catastrophe, allied in character and kind to that which overwhelmed 

 [Agricultural Report.] 27 



