SUMMARY. 359 



they rest, furnish now and fresh matter to supply t he loss occasioned by the removal of 

 inorganic matter in the crops themselves. 



6. The supply of phosphates has been shown, by analysis, to be derived in the main 

 from the rocks themselves; parts of the two systems supplying' them in about equal pro- 

 portions, namely, the Taconic slates, and the Hamilton and Chemung groups. The Tully 

 limestone also furnishes the phosphates in about the same proportion ; but, this rock being 

 quite limited, its influence is not extensive. 



7. The character of the soils which are now cultivated in New-York, has not been ma- 

 terially changed by diluvial action. This assertion will receive essential support, when it 

 is recollected that the rocks upon the east side of the Hudson extend very far north ; and 

 that the force or power which transported the soil, moved it in the direction of the strike 

 of the rocks themselves. In the middle and western counties, a very large proportion of 

 the underlying rock crumbles down into a tillable soil in a short time after exposure. The 

 transportation of the debris of those rocks, however, has extended the wheat-growing soil 

 as far as the outcropping of the Hamilton and Chemung rocks in many places. The 

 higher grounds, or the elevated parts of the district, covered by the Hamilton aad Chemung 

 groups, have not received the debris of the Onondaga-salt group : they are furnished with 

 soil which is derived principally from the groups themselves. It is always deficient in the 

 alkalies and alkaline earths. 



8. The iron in the wheat soils, and in the green shales, is in the state of a protoxide : 

 indeed this statement holds good when applied to the Taconic slates. The soils, too, of 

 the Wheat district, contain the protoxide principally ; while in the maize-growing district, 

 it is usually in the state of a peroxide. It is improbable that iron enters into the organs of 

 vegetables, without first becoming a peroxide. 



9. There are no soils in New- York, which are entitled to the appellation of calcareous 

 soils. In the common language of the journalists of the day, they are either sandy or 

 argillaceous loams. The peaty soils belong mostly to swamps or marshes, or which were 

 so before they were reclaimed. 



10. The means which are usually at hand for maintaining an uninterrupted fertility, 

 are plaster, limestone, marl, tufa, peat, and decomposable shales. The distribution of the 

 limestones is well delineated on the Geological Map. The peat and marl beds are gene- 

 rally distributed over the entire State, but they occupy only small basins in each of the 

 geological formations. Lime is used too seldom ; though its influences and effects are 

 invariably decided, where there is a sufficiency of vegetable or organic matter. Hence 

 one of the most important desiderata for the agriculturist, will be hereafter to secure a 

 sufficient amount of organic matter, which may be used most efficaciously in the form of 

 compost with marl and lime. Sulphate of lime is quite a constant ingredient in the soils 

 of the eastern, central and western counties ; and less common in the Southern, Northern, 

 Highland and Atlantic districts. 



11. The means for increasing the fertility of soil are much greater in all places than 



