362 
EXPLANATION OF THE AGRICULTURAL MAP. 
The first is the Highland district, and is colored lake: it occupies two distant parts of the State; the 
Southern is much the smallest, and is comparatively unimportant: it is much modified by the soils of the 
Eastern and Hudson river districts, which separate it from the Northern. This latter portion is under¬ 
laid by primary rocks, consisting of gneiss and hypersthene rock; the former is principally upon the 
outside, while the latter occupies the interior, and forms a remarkable nucleus, which is mountainous, 
and furnishes but little arable soil. It will be observed that many of the principal rivers rise in the 
northern highlands. The primary region is surrounded by sedimentary rocks which belong to the lower 
Silurian or New-York system. 
The second district is the Eastern or Taconic, and forms a long narrow belt running nearly north and 
south. The rocks of this system divide at the highlands of the Hudson; the upper or superior rocks 
cross above, and the inferior below the Highlands: the former are slates, the latter slates and white and 
gray limestones. The district is colored drab. The hills run nearly north and south in the direction of 
the strike of the rocks; hence the transported materials, which often compose the soil, belong almost 
exclusively to the same rocks upon which they rest. 
The Hudson and Mohawk district is the third, and occupies, in part, those vallies. It is colored blue. 
The rocks belong wholly to the lower part of the New-York system; the slates, however, seem to 
impart to it its characteristic features. The valley of the Mohawk is modified by the Northern High¬ 
land district. A belt of northern boulders crosses the district at Amsterdam. Primary soil is freely 
distributed through this part of the district. Lewis, Jefferson, and a part of the western part of St. 
Lawrence counties are embraced also in this district. The soils of this part of the district have been 
examined less than those in the Mohawk and Hudson vallies. 
The Wheat district is numbered four. It extends from Herkimer to Oswego, and then westward 
along the south shore of Lake Ontario : its southern boundary runs through the middle of the smaller 
lakes, Cayuga and Seneca, to Lake Erie. A very large proportion of the soil of this district is derived 
directly from the red and green shales: the northern part, that which lies along the shores of Lake 
Ontario, is derived from the softer portion of the Medina sandstone. The soil is often drab colored, 
especially when derived from the red slate. The green shales furnish a light'colored soil, but it is 
essentially the same as that derived from the red rocks. 
The Southern district lies south of the former: it embraces the southern tier of counties. The vallies 
run north and south. The slates, shales and sandstones are deficient in calcareous matter: the soil also, 
especially in the higher places, is deficient in the alkaline earths generally. The vallies which have 
received the northern drift, which is largely mixed with the debris of the red and green shales, bear 
eood crops of wheat. The pebbles which indicate this variety of soil are derived from the Niagara 
and Onondaga limestones. 
The fifth is eminently a grazing district. The grass upon the slopes, which are watered with pure 
water, is sweet, and is relished by all kinds of stock. The butter which is produced from this district 
is not excelled by any in the State, especially that of Delaware county: I mean to say that it is equally 
good as the Orange and Herkimer county butter. The Orange county butter, however, is preferred in 
market, but probably in consequence of the superior mode in which it is packed. 
Lono- Island, in consequence of its maritime position, is made a separate district. It is, however, 
probable that the soil of the northern side is derived from the Primary and Taconic districts: it is even 
here more sandy than either. The middle and southern sides are more sandy, and in fact consist of sea 
sand in many places. 
