PREFACE. 
3 
The preceding sentiments have been offered, in consequence of the agitation of 
the subject in the recent anniversary meetings of the agricultural societies. The 
subject, too, is intimately connected with the late geological surveymf the State, 
by means of which, the munificence of the Legislature has secured an ample and 
complete collection of specimens of the various kinds of rocks and minerals 
which compose the materials of our soils, or are found beneath the surface : 
these specimens are arranged in a cabinet, according to their position in nature; 
so that they may now be made to serve the interests of agriculture, especially 
should an institution be established on a proper basis. Submitting these views, I 
proceed to make a few explanatory remarks in relation to the following report. 
The survey commenced in the summer of 1836, and closed in January, 1842. 
The State was divided into four districts, in areas of nearly equal extent, but 
without regard to geological structure. The district which was assigned to the 
author of this Report, included the seven northern counties, with an aggregate 
area of ten thousand square miles. A very large proportion of this surface is 
uncultivated, and covered with forests of a dense growth. The conditions under 
which the survey has been executed were therefore unfavorable in more respects 
than one. 
When the survey commenced, the northern district had received very little 
attention, except in mineralogy. Several gentlemen who resided in those rich 
mineral fields, had at that period acquired an extensive knowledge of the loca¬ 
lities around them; but no one had determined the relations of the rocks, or 
made any discriminations even in the classes to which they belong. In the pro¬ 
secution of the work, the following objects have engaged my attention; 
1. The determination of the rocks; their order of succession, superposition 
and extent. 
2. Their mineral associates ; the veins and beds of minerals, whether metallic 
or non-metallic ; and the conditions under which they exist. 
3. To ascertain the existence of beds of marl, peat, lime, and all the materials 
used in agriculture or construction. 
4. It was my duty to collect eight sets or suits of specimens of each important 
production, and transmit them to Albany. 
5. To collect facts and material for the construction of a geological map. 
6. To describe the rocks, and arrange them scientifically. 
In addition to the above objects, I have devoted some time to the topography 
of the Second District. I have ascended and measured most of the hioher 
O 
