WESTERN DISTRICT. 
28 i 
A soil taken from the forest near the Green lakes in Manlius, gave, on analysis, 
Water..... 4° 00 
Organic matter ...... 6*25 
Silex or silicates...77'00 
Peroxide of iron and alumina. 9*74 
Carbonate of lime___ 3*00 
Magnesia __ ______ 0*50 
100*49 
In this analysis, I obtained a greater percentage of carbonate of lime than usual ; and it 
appears highly probable, from this analysis, and from the circumstances of the case, that a 
part of the sulphate of lime of the green shales may be converted into a carbonate in the 
soil, and perhaps a part is carried away in solution. This latter supposition appears quite 
probable in this case, as the water of the Green lakes, which receive the wash of the sur¬ 
rounding hills, contains much gypsum in solution. * 
A soil taken from the flats near Manlius centre, and which has been long under culti¬ 
vation, gave 
Water of absorption. 4*00 
Organic matter..___ 8*50 
Silex___ 79*54 
Peroxide of iron and alumina_ 6*49 
Carbonate of lime_ 1*41 
Carbonate of magnesia___ trace. 
99*94 
This soil has been long famous for its wheat crops ; and although it does not afford a very 
large return, yet it has been cultivated for this grain for twenty-five or thirty years past. 
The most important fact brought out in many of the analyses of the soils of this district, 
does not indicate deterioration, much less an approach to barrenness. Even intances 
occur, where the cultivated soil seems to be richer than the new and uncultivated ; and 
such a view is not very improbable, inasmuch as the soil in many instances is renewed, 
or rather has new matter from the rock added to it. This takes place only when the soil is 
ploughed ; for the rock beneath is defended by a coat of earth, and its disintegration is 
promoted only when its surface is partially exposed by the common operations required in 
tilling the soil. 
Cayuga county contains large tracts of soil adapted to wheat. Those which are most 
esteemed, and upon which this crop rarely fails, are clay bottoms, upon which the surface 
never heaves, or the grain very rarely winter-kills. This property of clay, that of holding 
the roots when the surface is frozen, is highly important. 
The following is an analysis of the clay which appears at many points along the shore 
of Cayuga lake, and which may be regarded as the subsoil of the county. 
| Agricultural Report. ] 36 
I 
