HUDSON AND MOHAWK DISTRICT. 255 



3. HUDSON AND MOHAWK DISTRICT. 



It may not appear, at the first view, necessary to treat of the soils of these vallies under 

 a separate head. It will be observed, however, by those who take time to consider the 

 subject, that the formation upon which they rest differs in many respects from that of the 

 Taconic slate district. The slates or shales are more decomposable, more calcareous, and 

 the beds of limestone are more extensive, especially if we include, as we propose to do, all 

 the country over which the rocks of the Champlain division prevail. Hence we expect the 

 soil contains more lime, and is in general more favorable for agriculture. The rocks too 

 are less disturbed, and remain nearer their original position. Leaving all essential dif- 

 ferences out of view, it will be found convenient to preserve this district distinct from the 

 others. 



The boundaries of this district are intended to run nearly parallel with the rocks of the 

 Champlain division. It therefore surrounds the Northern Highland district. Some of its 

 best portions lie in Jefferson and Clinton counties, where the soils are really derived in the 

 main from the rock upon which they repose. It is of course intermingled with granitic 

 debris in the valley of the Mohawk, especially between Amsterdam and Littlefalls. 



This district contains a distinct formation of clay and sand, which imparts a peculiar 

 character to it, and hence approximates to those of the western wheat district. This 

 formation gives a degree of stability to the soil, which is not possessed by the soils of the 

 hilly districts of the southern tier of counties, or even by those of the Taconic district. 



The geographical position of this district, and the relations which it bears to the adjacent 

 ones, which have been already noticed, takes from it those peculiar characters which 

 would, in other circumstances, distinguish it. The Taconic slates border the long northern 

 valley of the Hudson river and Lake Champlain, and hence furnish no small amount of 

 debris or soil. The Northern Highland district, lying north of this, furnishes also its own 

 materials especially to the Mohawk valley. If insulated, the soil of the Hudson and Mo- 

 hawk district would contain a greater amount of calcareous matter. Where the soil of 

 limestones and slates is unmixed, it effervesces perceptibly with acids ; but generally in 

 all those places where the soil is mixed with the northern primary, or with the taconic, 

 it contains only a small percentage of lime. The mixture, as in most other instances, is 

 due to diluvial action, or to that northern current which swept over the whole country 

 from north to south, bearing along soil, gravel, rocks, etc. The principal difference which 

 prevails between the soils of this and the adjacent districts, consists in the fineness of the 

 former soil. 



This district is designed to be coextensive with the Champlain division, a series of rocks 

 commencing with the Potsdam sandstone, and ending with the shales of the Hudson 

 river, or the Loraine series. A very large proportion of the Hudson and Mohawk river 

 valley is underlaid with shales, some of which are calcareous and magnesian. The 

 northern parts of the district, especially those lying in Jefferson and Clinton counties, con- 



