QUATERNARY DEPOSITS. 
229 
Mr. Hug, near Adams’ saw-mill, in Spencer, Tioga county; on Tipple’s farm, three miles 
southwest of Verona ; and on the farm of Mr. Shed, to the south of Truxton. At this latter 
place it is in pebble-like particles, distributed through the soil over an area of several acres. 
At all the uplifts, by the side of the calciferous rock, and where fractures existed in the 
limestone rocks along the Mohawk, this kind of ore was common, appearing as an exudation 
from the rock. 
Peat or Muck. 
This is an exceedingly common, and in many parts of the district a very abundant pro¬ 
duct, constantly forming in certain low situations. The condition for its production appears 
to be permanent moisture, or rather water; and where this is made to flow off by drainage, 
it ceases to accumulate. Where peat exists, the soil or subsoil upon which it rests is either 
clay or marl, impermeable to water, this being an essential condition for its existence. It is 
formed of successive growths of the same or of different kinds of vegetation, which have 
lost life, and have changed to a brown of different shades, sometimes almost black. Usually 
the kind of plants which form it can be distinguished, and again the vegetable structure only 
is apparent. In Maine, Dr. Jackson, its geologist, found j)eat exhibiting the compact nature 
and color of coal. 
Though the production of peat in the first instance requires the lowest level, it is so spongy 
and retentive of water, that by successive growths it raises its bed and appears in mounds 
and hillocks. This result is aided greatly by deposits of tufa, which, in several localities in 
the third district, constantly form beneath it. Usually the surface is more or less soft, yield¬ 
ing to pressure, often shaking or trembling when walked upon. 
Throughout the district, no use has yet been made of it. Its two great uses are for fuel 
and manure. From its immense abundance through the low grounds of Oneida, Madison, 
Onondaga and Cayuga counties, so soon as the forests are all levelled, and a higher grade of 
fertility of the land required, it will be in demand, the purer kinds for fuel, the others for 
manure. 
Some of the larger deposits, and a few of the others only from their interest will be men¬ 
tioned. The canal to the west of Rome shows that a large body of peat, and of good quality, 
exists there. The same is seen at Cowasolon swamp, appearing to be much the largest body 
in the district. By the road from Chittenango village, it shows in a ditch that at least two 
successive growths of tamarisk existed on its border, the lower one underlaid with lake marl. 
The digging of the enlarged canal between Canton and Bellisle, shows a considerable 
deposit of peat, of six or more feet in thickness. It shows also, in some parts, alternations 
of marl, the latter in very thin layers. 
The alluvial flat below Little-Falls shows, by the ditches which have been cut through it, 
that it is underlaid in part with peat. 
It was noticed also in the valley of Cherry-Valley, on the land of Dr. Campbell; thickness 
