SOUTHERN DISTRICT. 
311 
Soil of the Old Red Sandstone , taken from the northern slope of the Catskill range, in 
Windham , Greene county. 
ANALYSIS. 
Organic matter___ 5 ‘00 
Water of absorption. 7*00 
Silicates . 80-00 
Peroxide of iron and alumina. 5-50 
Carbonate of lime. 0-25 
Alumina. 3-50 
100-25 
Another, but a forest soil, from near the top of the Catskill mountain, gave 
Water and vegetable matter_ 24-00 
Silicates_ 69-00 
Peroxide of iron_ 2-17 
Carbonate of lime___ 0-75 
Alumina_,_ 3-67 
99-59 
By this analysis we obtain the full amount of lime, which the soil of the Old Red Sand¬ 
stone contains. Under cultivation, this is speedily reduced ; and hence, in order to grow 
crops which require lime, the farmer must add it to his manures. 
The soil formed by the debris of the red rocks of the Catskill mountain range is generally 
alight, but quick soil. It is warm and early, but does not stand a di ought as well as 
many soils, when cultivated for corn, or any of the hoed crops. It furnishes the finest 
feed for grazing ; and the butter which is made from cows feeding upon the rather steep 
slopes of the Catskill range, either of Greene or Delaware counties, is probably superior to 
any in the State. There is a richness and freshness in the dairy productions of the Catskill 
ranges, which makes them in greater demand in the city of New-York, than those from 
other parts of the State. The superiority of the Orange county butter arises from the 
excellent condition in which it is packed for market, not from its superiority in quality 
and sweetness. 
Another analysis of soil from the Hamilton group gave 
Water and organic matter_ 7-00 
Silicates. 85-25 
Peroxide of iron and alumina_ 6-62 
Carbonate of lime_ 0-50 
Magnesia... 0-50 
99-87 
