'2'.W CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL* 



more specific, loams were designated by the predominance of clay or silex, and thus 

 farmers are wont n> speak of 8 claj loam and Bandy loams. In regard to this classifica- 

 tion, it i> do( pretended that ii is nol useful, and it ma\ be that n is as good as the nature 



of the case admits. These«varietie8, however, are mel with on almost everj fi ; and 



hence, on reflection, it was attempted to class the soils of New-York geologically, or 

 according to the products of a section of country, although these sections consist in each 

 of different formations. The divisions which we have adopted seem to answer well 

 in tin- territory for which thej were framed, but probably ma] have only a trifling value 

 elsewhere. 



In New-York, it seemed to be necessary thai a classification Bhould embrace wide areas, 

 wherever It was possible to ti\ upon characters that would make a proper discrimination. 

 The subdivisions which would be adopted must of necessity be based upon tacts which are 

 generally recen ed, and upon differences which are readilj cognizable as well as practically 

 useful. The division of tin' State into large sections, according to the natural products, 

 is useful particularly in giving greater clearness to our labors in the analysis of soils. It 

 will be found useful, were there nothing more than a simple geographical division of tbe 

 State. When, however, we speak of natural productions, as wheat, for example, it is not 

 intended to inculcate the opinion thai wheat can nol be grown in any other than what is 

 termed a wheat district. It is supposed that it may be better grown in this than in any 

 other district, taken as a whole; thai m tbe favored districts, wheat-growing is a more 

 I 'liable business, the grain of a better quality, and the yield more abundant than else- 

 where. The same general remarks apply to every agricultural district. Grazing must be 



followed all over tbe Slate ; but there are certain districts where the raising of cattle, and 

 the making of butter and cheese, is a more profitable business than the raising of wheat. 

 Some districts are well adapted to the culture of maize, which, for certain reasons, are not 

 suitable for wheat. We conceive, therefore, that districts might be marked out, each of 

 which should have in itself so many characters in common, and such differences as it re- 

 gards others, as to be considered a distinct agricultural district. 



Such agricultural districts have already been sketched out, and their peculiar charac- 

 teristics briefly detailed in the first part of 1 1 1 1 -- volume. Ii may nol appear, on a thorough 

 examination, thai these characteristics depend on the composition of the soil. Other 

 conditions often determine the character of an agricultural region ; these are its height, 

 surface, and depth of soil. Ii is true that certain characters relating to each condition go 

 together. A high mountainot Q, and a ibm and broken soil are associated in one 



district; and such a region, whatever might be the composition of the soil, would be 

 unsuitable for the plow, and hence would necessarily form a grazing district. On the 

 contrary, a level or merely rolling surface i- usually coaled bea\il\ with soil, and is 

 frequently Bmooth and arable, yet it mi<. r ht furnish fine pasturage ; and though the com- 

 lion of the soil might not be entirely suited to wheat, still this would not be a bar to 

 its profitable cultivation, under a variety of circumstances which n i- easy to imagine. 



