332 
[Assembly 
Beneath; but owing to causes of disturbance in many places, we can- 
not depend on this criterion. The upper strata of the sandstone pro- 
duce a sandy soil, but its character is modified by the decomposition of 
the shales above, which generally supply sufficient aluminous matter. 
The marl of the sandstone formation below the upper strata, produces 
a loamy soil, in some cases approaching to clayey loam. Sometimes 
this soil is mixed with gravel or sand, and no one kind prevail over an 
extensive district. It is no uncommon occurrence to find, in the same 
field, sandy, clayey and gravelly soil. The soil on the north side of the 
lake ridge, for the most part, is more uniform in character than on the 
south. That on the north side requires more care and labor in the cul- 
tivation, but is thought to produce quite as good crops as the soil on the 
south side. Wheat, in some instances, has been sown on these soils 
ten years in succession. The soil above the sandstone has often a 
brownish colour, arising from the character of the rock beneath. 
The shales above the sandstone produce a clayey soil, which, however 
contains a sufficient quantity of carbonate of lime to render it extreme 
iy fertile. The soil produced by the ('ecomposition of the calcareous 
shales, north of the mountain ridge, is perhaps the most productive of 
any in the county. It is peculiarly adapted to the growth of wheat.; — 
If tilled for a long time, and particularly if worked while wet, it be- 
comes " stiff," and hard, like clay. 
The soil upon the limestone, is from a few inches to twenty feet in 
depth, of a loamy character, and very fertile throughout. The slow 
disintegration of the limestone affords a sufficient proportion of carbo- 
nate of lime, and if vegetable matter be also furnished, the soil will not 
soon be exhausted. In the southern part of the county the soil is gra- 
velly or sandy on the hills, and clayey in the valleys and low grounds. 
The soil of this part of the county contains a large proportion of car- 
bonate of lime, arising from the decomposition of fragments of slaty 
limestone which are distributed throughout. In some places in this part 
of the county we find extensive deposits of coarse gravel, with bould- 
ers. In the southern part of Monroe county, the soil will bear crop- 
ping for a great length of time, without the use of manure. 
Clays. 
The clays of Monroe county are of that kind, fit for bricks and the 
coarsest kinds of pottery. The varieties are gray, blue and brown clays; 
gray and blue varieties prevail along the lake shore. Those in the inte- 
rior o' the county are brownish or variegated. Every part of the coun- 
ty furnishes beds of clay of greater or less extent, but the demand for 
