DARKE COUNTY. 509 
of the remains of a mastodon, both of which were found in the peat de- 
posits of Mud Creek “Prairie.” At the Turpen House, Greenville, may 
be seen a fine tusk of a mastodon, found somewhere in the northern part 
of the county. But a short time ago a large tooth of a mammoth 
was picked up in the creek bottom just north of Versailles. Probably 
portions of fi‘teen or twenty skeletons of these gigantic beings have been 
found in as many years. | 
V. SOIL AND VEGETATION. 
The county owes its soils almost wholly to the Drift, but very little 
having resulted from the disintegration of the native lime-rock. From 
the former almost barren deposits of clay, sand, and gravel, by the 
action of streams, vegetation, and animal life through a long lapse of 
time have been wrought the present rich and productive soils which so 
distinctly mark this and the neighboring counties. The fine clays and 
sands were separated from the hard-pan; rocks were weathered until, by 
successive frosts and thaws, their mineral constituents disseminated over 
the surrounding surface; vegetation flourished and decayed; streams 
overflowed their banks, dissolving and mingling the materials, until 
there is presented not only a rich but also a tolerably varied soil. There 
were also embodied in the Drift, together with the vast quantities of 
metamorphic rocks, a great many pebbles and bowlders of the Niagara 
and Lower Helderberg groups, which in their decomposition act as excel- 
lent fertilizers. But about four kinds are to be noted as characteristic: 
First, the clayey or wheat-growing soil. This predominates, and is par- 
ticularly characteristic of the uplands and higher portions of the county, 
especially in the region of the watershed. It varies in color from yellow 
to red and brown. Upon the summit of the divide, from exhaustive 
weathering and drainage, it is bleached almost white or ashen. Of this 
the numerous sulphur springs along its base are proof as being supplied 
by the iron extracted above. This species of soil is for the most part 
free and porous, but in many places solid and tenacious. When of the 
former character, it produces copious crops of wheat and other nearly re- 
lated cereals; when of the latter, it is of great economical value in the 
manufacture of brick and tile. | 
The second may be termed alluvial or corn-growing soil. This is com- 
monly known as “bottom land,” and embraces quite extensive areas in 
the valleys of Greenville and Stillwater Creeks. In character it may be 
said to be of a black loamy nature, rendered free and mealy by an aver- 
age supply of silica. A considerable quantity of decayed vegetable mat- 
