460 
[Assembly 
sea, down to the last subsidence of waters from the valleys. It dif- 
fers essentially from either of the alluviums just described. Its mate- 
rials have been transported but a short distance, and consist of frag- 
ments of sandstone in a siliceous clay, of such proportions, and of such 
texture, as to render cultivation difficult. Rank grass is produced 
from it, and oats are cultivated pretty well ; but wheat can scarcely be 
grown at all ; and such is the elevation, generally, that corn could rare- 
ly ripen, if the soil would promote its growth. It caps the hills, and 
walls the sides of the valleys ; and is the cold compact soil which is 
regarded as the least productive of the alluviums of Cattaraugus. 
Clay Beds, 
In shallow beds, clay is found more or less in the valleys, but to no 
extent was it seen upon the higher lands. 
That of the Conewango is by far the largest seen. It is observed at 
Randolph in several places and very possibly underlies a great portion 
of the immense lowlands and swamps. 
It occurs in little " sags" upon the lands of Col. Hawley and Mr. 
Green in Great Valley. They are of a few square yards in extent, or 
a few square rods at the utmost ; and will, from the small quantity of 
calcareous matter intermixed, be of value. 
It is seen a mile west of Waverly in strata, and alternates with gra- 
vel and sand in an alluvial hill directly south of Waverly village. 
A swamp on the land of Mr. Sweetland in Little Valley is underlain 
with it. 
It is found about a mile south of New- Albion, an hundred yards from 
the mouth of a tributary to the stream along which the road passes. 
Peat. , 
In the towns of Great Valley and Little Valley, the " sags" or de- 
pressions in which the clay is formed, contain more or less extensive 
bodies of peat. The largest is upon the land of Mr. Sweetland. About 
ten acres are spread over by the bog ; and the depth of peat varies 
from a foot or two near the margin, to more than twelve towards the 
centre. As a manure and as a substitute for coal and wood, this bed 
in particular, and the smaller ones in proportion to their extent, must 
become of value. For the improvement of lands, the peat may be ap- 
