244 ANALYSES OF SOILS. 



This range of country is the most broken of any in the county. In (he valliea the land 

 doable, but t lie soil is too cold without draining. The Sparry limostone traverses this 

 ran^e north and south, but the effect on the soil is too small to he appreciated: the date 

 predominates. Besides, the productiveness is diminished by height, a* well as a coarse soil. 

 Peat and lime, which are abundant through the whole range, may he considered impor- 

 tant means lor ameliorating the roil. 



A remarkable substance was brought to us from Columbia county, for examination, in 

 the fall of 1845. It was supposed to be a valuable material, and the finder made a secret 

 of its locality. It was, however, nothing more than vegetable matter in a line state of 

 division, and. as we found on examination, mixed with a little silex and alumina. It was 

 a thick pulpy mass, some of which, as we were assured, had been tin own out of the bog 

 upon a dry soil, and had remained wet the whole season ; and about half a pint remained 

 two months in an open tin cup, in a warm dry atmosphere, before it became dry, at which 

 time it had shrunk to the size of a butternut. We notice this substance, for the purpose of 

 calling attention to the fact, that some materials, combined in certain proportions, are 

 more absorbent and retentive of moisture than others. In this substance water existed in 

 great excess. On analysis, it gave 



Water 80-75 



Vegetable matter 3*45 



Silex 3-55 



Alumina 3-20 



The silex was principally composed of the cases of infusorials. 



Soil of Hoosic-corners. 

 Rests on fine slate; associated with ranges of limestone. 



, A.VAI.V>I- 



Water - 4-25 



Organic matter - 12-69 



- x 69-78 



Carbonate of lime 1-76 



M nesia 1-30 



Phosphate of alumina 1-15 



Peroxide of iron 5*55 



Alumina 3-42 



99-90» 



* The notes rehtine to this remarkably rich s icts forgotten. It is, however, well known that 

 the soil of Hoosic U excellent. This ma probably a new and uncultivated soil. 



