CONCLUSION. 
The first volume relating to the agriculture of New-York treats of the soils and the 
constitution of the rocks, and their relations to each other. It was designed to prepare the 
way for the present volume. Although it is perhaps as full as could be expected, still much 
at this time might be done to improve it and render it more useful, or at least better adapted 
to the wants of farmers. 
The statistics of agriculture are mostly omitted ; and when introduced, it was for the 
purpose of comparing premium crops grown upon different soils, and in different parts of 
the State. This volume contains too much, perhaps, which relates to geology proper, but 
which was introduced for the purpose of giving an epitome of what was known upon the 
subject, this information being spread over the four volumes prepared by the gentlemen 
who had charge of this department of the Survey. 
In the part relating mostly to geology, I introduced an extended account of the Taconic 
System. I felt justified in this course, for the reason that in this State these rocks present 
a highly important feature in its geology. It is not an inconsiderable part of the State 
over which these rocks prevail, and hence as a geological fact the existence of this system 
could not be passed over by one who was well satisfied as to his position; and although 
this position might be discredited, and a reputation for sagacity might be hazarded by a 
committal as to the fact, still I should not have felt justified in the mere statement of a 
conjecture or possibility. It is, however, proper to state, for the benefit of those persons 
who are unacquainted with the controversy upon this subject, that geologists are still divided 
upon the fact. Among those who have been the most strenuous in opposition to it, is 
my colleague Mr. James Hall ; as he has made it the subject of remark in his volume of 
Palaeontology, and has opposed the views which I maintained in the volume referred to, 
on the ground that the fossils which I there described were those which are common to 
the Hudson-river group, I deem it a duty I owe to myself to say that a committee of the 
American Association of Geologists and Naturalists has reported adversely to Mr. Hall’s 
position. This removes thus far the supposed or theoretical objections to my views, and 
favors the position I had taken as it regards the reality of this ancient system of sedimentary 
rocks. Other assumptions in the volume of Paleeontology would be noticed here, were it 
not that I propose to resume the subject at a future time. 
This volume, it is hoped, contains matter of a practical kind, in a form which has not 
been before accessible to the farmers of this country. The analyses, though numerous, 
have been conducted with as much care as it was possible to bestow ; and I may state that 
all the weighings of products, without exception, have been to the hundredth of a grain. 
