116 
[Assembly 
accordance to their relative ages. But when there are such re- 
peated alternations of mineral deposites as in the district we are 
speaking of, we cannot say that hornblende is older than limestone, 
or that gneiss is not newer than either. 
The most rational view we can form of this question is, that the 
whole primordeal crust of the eai th is absolutely of the same age. 
That some portion of its surface, called primitive, has been alter- 
ed and modified since its solidification into a crust, there can be 
no doubt. The phenomena which many rocks exhibit, very clear- 
ly show, that after they became solid their structure may have 
been changed. In this sense, therefore, granite may be older than 
gneiss — or it may be newer than granular limestone. If the order 
is, as it has been taught, and as it is received at the present day, 
why is granite so often blended with gneiss that it is impossible to 
draw the line of separation between them, or to decide where the 
granite ends and gneiss begins? Why do we so often use the terms 
gnesioid granite, gnesioid ho?'nhlende — and why do we find so much 
perplexity in the granites, sienites and porphyries 1 One reason 
probably is, because we have been trammelled with the dogmas of 
the schools. Another is, our inquiries have been made in the clo- 
set, or else our researches have been confined to small territories. 
Before closing our remarks on the inferior stratified rocks, we 
would suggest the expediency of using the coarse disintegrating 
limestone as a manure. This variety of it is as easily ground as 
plaster, and might be used in the same manner. We have evi^ 
dence of its utility when thus employed. Mr. Griffin, of Chester, 
Warren county, a year or two since, used it on his land with as 
much effect, he thought, as genuine gypsum; indeed, he supposed ^ 
it was gypsum. But there is evidence of its fertilizing properties 
from other sources. Mr. Moore^ of Genesee, has communicated in 
the Journal of Science, an account of his experiments with it, and 
from them it appears equal in fertilizing powers to the best plas- 
ter, especially when spread on fields of clover, wheat, and other 
spring crops. These favorable results were also obtained by ma- 
ny of the farmers in the neighborhood. The variety used by Mr. 
Moore, however, contained petrifactions. This fact leads to the 
inquiry, whether its fertilizing property was not owing to the ani- 
mal matter in the shells ^ud limestone in which they were embed- 
ded. In the case of Mr. Griffin, we found the limestone, though 
