OTSEGO COUNTY. 
253 
The Vlie, or natural meadows, are numerous in many parts of the district: they are the 
prairies of the west upon a small scale. Their soil, being composed of minutely divided parts 
or fine earth, is favorable for grass, the rapid growth of which smothers the germinating tree. 
This is the primary cause why trees do not exist where grass is rank; the others are but 
subordinate ones. One and all in the district show the same origin, having been ponds or 
lakes receiving the wash of the country which they drained, the finer particles of which being 
diffused through their waters, have, by subsidence, formed their level bottom, and their highly 
productive soil for grass. 
2. Otsego County. 
The surface of the whole of Otsego county consists of high broad ridges, having generally 
a common south and west direction, their sides rounded, and separated by long, deep and 
usually broad valleys. The northeast corner of the county terminates abruptly towards the 
Mohawk river, presenting a succession of cliffs, being the continuation of the Helderberg 
mountain of Albany county. 
The northeastern part of the county presents the series of limestone, etc. which forms the 
Helderberg division. This division passes through the upper parts of the towns of Cherry- 
Valley and Springfield, resting upon the Frankfort slate and its sandstone, these latter consti¬ 
tuting the larger part of the upper member of the Champlain division. No part whatever of 
the Ontario division exists at the extreme east end of the county. It commences not far west of 
the road which leads from Cherry-Valley to Fort-Plain, showing the Oneida conglomerate and 
the Clinton group, and these two masses are continuous from thence to the west of Rochester. 
From the southwest dip of all the rocks of the county, their highest point is towards where 
the Helderberg range or cliff joins Schoharie county; and from that point, they all decline to 
the southwest, rising one above the other. 
The whole of the limestone of the county is confined to the Helderberg division, and there¬ 
fore is found only in the range of the northern ends of the towns of Cherry-Valley and Spring- 
field, and the extreme northwest corner of Richfield. It is the most valuable part of the county 
for its mineral products ; lime being an essential element in all buildings for the use of man, 
all important for the improvement of soil, and requisite for a whitewash where cleanliness and 
sweetness are required. 
The Helderberg division exhibits two portions of the Onondaga salt group : The first or 
lowest is the calcareous shaly part, from whence the sulphur springs to the north of Cherry- 
Valley issue ; and the second, the harder and more calcareous part, in thin regular layers, which 
overlie the first part. On the top of the latter mass is the Water-lime group ; above it is the 
Pentamerus limestone, showing three divisions ; then the Catskill shaly limestone ; next above, 
the Cauda-galli grit; the Onondaga limestone, or the marble rock of the valley, then follows ; 
and finally the Corniferous limestone, the latter rock showing that its surface was an ancient 
river or valley bottom, being the upper mass of the division. Neither the Oriskany sandstone 
nor the Schoharie grit were seen in place, though doubtless both exist in the county. 
