H1G GEOLOGY OF OHIO. 
ter likewise add to its fertility. Corn flourishes upon it to a surprising 
degree. | 
The third, in regard to 1ts importance or extent of distribution, is a 
kind of dark gray or ashen soil, for which I think the term turf, in a 
specific sense, might be very properly applied. It is of a very superficial 
character, and is particularly characteristic of newly-cleared forest lands, 
and such tracts as are of a low but dry nature. Really it might be classed 
as a clayey soil, but the long growth of vegetation and toils of insect life 
have changed its character somewhat, and adapted it for the growth of a 
different and more varied class of produce. Of these might be enumer- 
ated the sweet and Irish potato, pumpkins, squashes, beans, and many of: 
the lesser grains. 
The fourth kind are the peat deposits, which embrace small patches here 
and there over the surface of the county. Immediately overlying the 
Niagara limestone on the land of Mr. Dicky, near Weaver’s Station, rest 
from two to three feet of excellent peat. It is remarkable to see the native 
rock and rich deposits of decayed vegetable matter in such juxtaposition ; 
and if may not be improper to suggest here that, when this superimposed 
peat is removed for the purpose of quarrying the stone, it should, by all 
means, be distributed upon the more exhausted or higher clay lands. 
While there are yet such extensive forests spread over the county, it 
would hardly be practicable te use it as fuel. Its proper mission here is 
that of a iertilizer. 
In Mud Creek Prairie, just south-west of Greenville, which was formerly 
a lake almost or quite to its source in Harrison township, are quite ex- 
tensive deposits of peat. At Bridge Creek, about one and one-half miles 
south-east of Greenville, it covers also considerable area. Along the 
Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and St. Louis Railroad, numerous other places 
might be cited where it occurs, but thisis not necessary. In many places 
it has been cultivated, and produces some fine corn and tobacco. In Mud 
Creek Prairie it is employed by Knox & Sater, of Greenville, for the culti- 
vation of willows for wicker-work. This neglect can hardly be regarded 
otherwise than as an irreparable waste of a rich fertilizer. No fertil- 
izing to speak of has as yet been resorted to in the county, and I con- 
cede that there has been no great need of it thus far. However, the 
productive power of the soil is not infinite. Tillage can not always 
go on without recuperation. This axiom, I think, the people will be 
forced to see before another score of harvests pase by. 
