-60 ANALYSES OF SOILS. 



farther Mat, oi in the western soils, while the lirae is much greater. It was undoubtedly 

 derived partly from the Primary district, and partly from the shales and limestones of Jef- 

 GersOD and St. Lawrence counties ; from the latter of which, also, the lime must have heen 

 derived. The primary of the district referred to embraces extensive formations of primary 

 limestone, many boulders of which have been found south of Rome. The granite and 

 gneiss belong to those varieties whose felspar contains potash. 



Soils of the Hudson river vallies. 



As a general rule, we have found only slight differences in the soils of the Mohawk and 

 Hudson river vallies. The alluvial flats are much the same, and so is the upland soil ; 

 but in the last named valley the tertiary clay is more extensive, and it is not unfreipiently 

 accompanied with its peculiar sands. In fact, on both sides of the river, from Glen's falls 

 to Kingston on the western side, and Sandyhill to Fishk ill on the eastern side, sand, with 

 its clay beneath, is a strong feature in both of these long narrow belts. 



Surface soil taken from the first ridge west of Coxsackie. 

 Just ploughed while in sward. 



AN M.\-l« 



Water of absorption 4*50 



Vegetable matter 5 -52 



Silex 82-88 



Peroxide of iron and alumina 6 "04 



Carbonate of lime 0*50 



Magnesia 0*25 



99-69 



The Albany clay, or, as it is in other places called, Post-tertiary clay. 



This clay, so far as it is regarded as a soil, may properly be considered in this place. 

 In connexion, we must also speak of the sands which accompany it. The whole may be 

 regarded as one formation. Below it is a stiff blue clay : above, by weathering, this 

 becomes a drab-colored clay, terminating finally in a gray or yellowish sand. The com- 

 position of the clay is as follows : 



Water of absorption 4 -25 



Organic matter 1-17 



Sulphate of lime _ 1-00 



Silicates 69-02 



Peroxide of iron and alumina 17-24 



Potash 0.14 



Carbonate of lime 4-00 



Magnesia 3-00 



99-82 



