state convention—Geological survey. 325 
soil by the several classes of lowland vegetation already named, 
among which the sedges and tamarack predominate. This corres¬ 
pondence adds to the significance of the native vegetation already 
insisted upon, and clearly shows the dependence of the one upon 
the other. 
If we compare these areas with the geological formations (a map 
of which was used in the presentation) we shall find in the west¬ 
ern portion, where the drift thins out, a noticeable correspondence, 
while in the eastern portion, where the drift is deep, the relation¬ 
ship is more obscure. The Potsdam and Sc. Peter’s sandstones 
give rise, as would be expected, to a sandy soil. The Trenton, 
Galena and Niagara limestones form either prairie loam or the 
lighter marly clay soils. The mixed drift, where largely calca¬ 
reous, produces the last named class of soils, but where largely 
aluminous, gives rise to the heavier marly clays. The assorted 
drift produces sometimes one and sometimes another. It seem3 
then that a knowledge of the geological formations is necessary 
to a comprehensive and philosophical study of agricultural 
science. 
[On the map of soils, three sets of isothermal lines had been 
drawn, showing the average temperature for July, for January, 
and for the year. Attention was called to their peculiarities and 
to their bearing upon the conclusions deduced from the foregoing 
facts.] 
It is scarcely necessary to dwell upon the value of such maps 
and observations, when extended over the entire state, and made 
accessible to the thinking farmer, who is not content to simply 
follow the methods of his forefathers and “ the way he did down 
east,” but who desires to know the conditions under which he la¬ 
bors and how they agree, or how they differ from the conditions 
elsewhere, that he may apply the principles of his profession un- 
derstandingly, and that he may make all necessary modifications 
in his reasonings upon the experience of others. It seems to me 
that in no other way can we furnish a practical basis for a true 
system of intelligent farming in our state. The instruction given 
in our agricultural colleges is necessarily deficient in these respects 
for the want of knowledge that cannot be obtained from the usual 
sources of information. By means of such facts as these observa- 
