INTRODUCTION. 
105 
dent on, the same climatic conditions as the indigenous vegetation. And 
when it is considered that, as shown in another connection, every agri- 
cultural product found in the census tables of the United States, except 
perhaps the sweet orange, is grown in this State, from cotton, tobacco, 
jute, figs, sugar-cane, and the like, to rye, buckwheat, maple sugar, &c., 
and that, in short, everything which can be produced in the temperate 
zone is producible here, it is seen that there is yet another and a strongly 
confirmatory expression of the wonderful combination and adjustment 
of climatal elements above disclosed by direct observation. 
And second, as to soils , the peculiar geological structure of the State, 
to be discussed in a future chapter, furnishes the material for every possi- 
ble variety and commixture; and in fact there is no description or com- 
bination unrepresented, from the black and deep peaty soils of Hyde and 
the great swamp tracts of the seaboard, and the alluvions, marls, and light, 
sandy and porous Quaternary accumulations of the eastern champaign to 
the clayey, sandy and gravelly soils of the hill country and of the moun- 
tains, the result of the decomposition in situ of every variety of rock,- — - 
granite, gneiss, schists, slates, sandstones, &c. 
And there is one notable feature of these soils which is worthy of a 
passing remark. It has often attracted the interested attention of geolo- 
gists from more northern regions, that the soils of this latitude are far 
deeper, that the decomposition of the geological formations has penetrated 
much further than in high latitudes. While in Hew England, for ex- 
ample, the s olid rock is generally found within a few feet of the surface, 
here it requires a penetration of 30, 50 or even 100 feet to pass through- 
the overlying debris of disintegrated strata, as seen every where in rail- 
road cuts, wells &c. This is doubtless due, in large part, so far as it is not 
explained by the foliation and tilted position of the rocks, to climatic in- 
fluences. The easily permeable strata are subjected throughout the year 
to the chemical action arising from a large and continuous percolation of 
comparatively warm aerated waters ; while in higher latitudes, not only 
are the quantity of water and the temperature and the chemical activity 
reduced, but for one half the year, the soil is locked up by frost from all 
access of decomposing agencies. 
So that not only are the products of the soil profoundly influenced by 
climatic agencies, but even the depth and composition of the soil itself are 
greatly modified by them. 
Zoological . — Hot only the vegetable but the animal kingdom is depen- 
dent, and fls equally dependent on climatic influences ; and is in fact, 
both directly and indirectly by reason of its intimate correlations to and 
dependence on the former, but another and equally exact exponent of 
