10 



the state having a north and south motion, and that the polishing and 

 striation of rocks is due to the same cause. Sufficient evidence in sup- 

 port of this theory may be derived from a careful study of the drift 

 itself; and a study of existing glaciers of the Alps of Switzerland and 

 in other countries discloses similarities of action and formation that 

 are confirmatory and convincing. 



3. The natural products of any region are important data as a key 

 to the economic and agricultural geology of a country, so that botany 

 becomes allied inseparably with geology. As the number and varietv 

 of fresh water Mollusca (univalve andoivalve) are a measure of the cal- 

 careous quality of the water of any region they also become an impor- 

 tant factor in geology, and zoology comes into alliance with geology. 

 In fact, the three sciences are so closely related, that no one can acquire 

 the least degree of thoroughness and proficiency in geology,without being 

 thoroughly conversant with both the others. One would naturally ex- 

 pect little variety in the vegetable products in so short a space as forty- 

 three miles, the length of the road; yet the change, especially in trees 

 and woody plants, is quite marked. Near Syracuse the timber consists 

 of oak, chestnut, hickory, tulip, basswood, and elm, with scarcely any 

 hard maple or beech. While basswood and elm continue the whole 

 length ot the road, chestnut becomes rare at Manlius while hickory and 

 oak continue to some extent to Cazenovia but no farther ; maple and 

 beech are common at Oran and form the principal timber at places far- 

 ther south ; hemlock, though present everywhere, is most common from 

 Erieville to Lebanon. The large pine stumps in Erieville Reservoir 

 and at other points along the road, indicate a former entensive growth 

 of valuable pine which is almost extinct or, if present, is small and al- 

 most worthless. 



(A list of trees and woody plants of Madison and Onondaga counties 

 together with a partial list of land and fresh water shells will be found 

 at the close of this article.) 



4. The adaptability of the various parts of this region to different 

 agricultural products depends largely on the distance above the sea- 

 level combined with the character of the soil and various minor condi- 

 tions. About Syracuse and in the northern portion of the counties of 

 Onondaga and Madison where the elevation above the sea is least and 

 the soil naturally productive wheat and other grains flourish, together 

 with fruit of various kinds. At Cazenovia and especially farther south, 

 at greater elevations, and often with inaccessible plow lands, grazing is 

 a more common occupation. At Georgetown, less thickly settled in 

 many parts, are considerable stores of lumber on the densely wooded 

 hills. ' • 



(At the close of this article will be found tables of elevation of the 

 stations, and statistics of farm products as these will best indicate the 

 agricultural character of this section.) 



5. The economical products of the drift along the line of the road 

 are few and unimportant, sand being at present the only one of account, 

 though bricks were formerly manufactured from the beds of red clay at 

 various points. 



II. HYDROGRAPHY. 



A. 1. The northern portion of the counties under consideration is 

 drained by streams belonging to the St. Lawrence system, the Seneca, 

 Oneida, and Oswego rivers serving as the outlets of many minor streams, 

 some of which are of local importance. Nine Mile Creek and Onondaga 

 Creek both rising in the south-west corner of Onondaga County rind 

 outlet through Onondaga Lake, the former passing through Otisco Lake 

 during its course. The chief tributaries received through Oneida Lake 

 are Chittenango and Oneida creeks, the former receiving the waters of 

 Butternut and. Limestone creeks in Onondaga County and Canaseraga 



