230 
CLASSIFICATION OF SOILS. 
more specific, loams were designated by the predominance of clay or silex, and thus 
farmers are wont to speak of a clay loam and sandy loams. In regard to this classifica¬ 
tion, it is not pretended that it is not useful, and it may be that it is as good as the nature 
of the case admits. These varieties, however, are met with on almost every farm ; and 
hence, on reflection, it was attempted to class the soils of New-York geologically, or 
according to the products of a section of country, although these sections consist in each 
case of different formations. The divisions which we have adopted seem to answer well 
in the territory for which they were framed, but probably may have only a trifling value 
elsewhere. 
In New-York, it seemed to be necessary that a classification should embrace wide areas, 
wherever it was possible to fix upon characters that would make a proper discrimination. 
The subdivisions which would be adopted must of necessity be based upon facts which are 
generally received, and upon differences which are readily cognizable as well as practically 
useful. The division of the State into large sections, according to the natural products, 
is useful particularly in giving greater clearness to our labors in the analysis of soils. It 
will be found useful, were there nothing more than a simple geographical division of the 
State. When, however, we speak of natural productions, as wheat, for example, it is not 
intended to inculcate the opinion that wheat can not be grown in any other than what is 
termed a wheat district. It is supposed that it may be better grown in this than in any 
other district, taken as a whole ; that in the favored districts, wheat-growing is a more 
profitable business, the grain of a better quality, and the yield more abundant than else¬ 
where. The same general remarks apply to every agricultural district. Grazing must be 
followed all over the State ; but there are certain districts where the raising of cattle, and 
the making of butter and cheese, is a more profitable business than the raising of wheat. 
Some districts are well adapted to the culture of maize, which, for certain reasons, are not 
suitable for wheat. We conceive, therefore, that districts might be marked out, each of 
which should have in itself so many characters in common, and such differences as it re¬ 
gards others, as to be considered a distinct agricultural district. 
Such agricultural districts have already been sketched out, and their peculiar charac¬ 
teristics briefly detailed in the first part of this volume. It may not appear, on a thorough 
examination, that these characteristics depend on the composition of the soil. Other 
conditions often determine the character of an agricultural region ; these are its height, 
surface, and depth of soil. It is true that certain characters relating to each condition go 
together. A high mountainous region, and a thin and broken soil are associated in one 
district; and such a region, whatever might be the composition of the soil, would be 
unsuitable for the plow, and hence would necessarily form a grazing district. On the 
contrary, a level or merely rolling surface is usually coated heavily with soil, and is 
frequently smooth and arable, yet it might furnish fine pasturage ; and though the com¬ 
position of the soil might not be entirely suited to wheat, still this would not be a bar to 
its profitable cultivation, under a variety of circumstances which it is easy to imagine. 
