G5 



much oxide of iron and some lime, produces when decomposed, a 

 deep red earth, which, in virtue of its composition, is generally found 

 productive. 



In accounting for the highly ferruginous soils presented in many 

 places in this district, as at Beaverdam in Goochland, it might at 

 first view appear most plausible to regard them as the product of 

 disintegrated hornblende, derived from the subjacent strata, and 

 certainly in some localities the colour and qualities of the soil may 

 be justly referred to this origin. But there are numerous instances 

 in which the superficial earth or clay is very deeply tinged, while 

 no rock of this description exists in the neighbourhood. Even over- 

 lying the sandstone of the coal measures, where the occurrence of 

 this mineral would be next to impossible, soil of a deep ferruginous 

 aspect frequently presents itself. Moreover, in general this red 

 soil forms merely a superficial stratum, often only a few inches in 

 thickness, while the earth beneath, the obvious product of the decom- 

 posing gneiss or granite, has a white or gray colour, and scarcely 

 any mixture of the tint which prevails on the surface. In all these 

 cases we must look for the source of the red soil in the extensive 

 region to the west, where nearly all the rocks give rise to it by de- 

 composition, and we must regard it as having been transported to 

 the spot on which it now rests, by some of those sweeping diluvial 

 currents whose action is otherwise attested by evidences of a con- 

 clusive character. 



The soils containing isinglass or mica, as well as those abounding 

 in the clays derived from the decomposition of felspar, though in 

 their natural state rather deficient in their productiveness, have ge- 

 nerally been found to receive great benefit from the applications of 

 lime and calcareous manures ; and the district in question may reap 

 great advantage from an extensive application of either. Its vicinity 

 to the Eocene shell and greensand marls, as already indicated, is 

 likely at some not remote day, to prove eminently beneficial to its 

 agriculture, and it were to be wished that the farmers who are in- 

 terested in its improvement, would promptly take advantage of such 

 facilities of transportation as are likely soon to alter, for the purpose 

 of availing themselves of the resources which nature has placed so 

 completely within their reach. 



In the neighbourhood of rocks where the felspar is comparatively 

 abundant, the disintegrating process gives rise to a clay of a pure 

 white colour, and almost impalpable texture. This is the Kaolin 



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