A geological history of Manhattan or New York Island. Together with a map of the island, and a suite of sections, tables and columns, for the study of geology, particularly adapted for the American student / By Issachar Cozzens, jr.

  • Issachar Cozzens
Date:
1843
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A geological history of Manhattan or New York Island. Together with a map of the island, and a suite of sections, tables and columns, for the study of geology, particularly adapted for the American student / By Issachar Cozzens, jr. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    the soil which he is cultivating—practical men have often found out that soil* which is most con- genial to the plants they intend to raise, but with the knowledge of Geology, their strength would be supported, and their practice made more perfect. The soil which produces in the greatest abund- ance, wheat, (the staff of life,) appears to lie be- yond the Alleghany Mountains: in the state of New York it is underlaid by what is now called the “Si- lurian system of rocks:” these rocks consist of Limestone and Sandstone, and shaley clay, impreg- nated with lime, and some Gypsum, and are great beds of shells, which appear, asif they were once at the bottom of some ocean—the soil lying on the top of these rocks, is the most prolific to the farmer, in its products of grain and grass. Even to the well-digger, a certain knowledge of the dip and make of the rock is requisite, that he may know how deep he must descend, and whether water can be obtained, and if attainable at all, at what spot. I have known well-diggers to pass * On the warm, sandy soil of south New Jersey and Long Island, you can raise the sweet potatoes, (Convolvulus Batata,) although this plant, grows more luxuriantly in more southern latitudes. I have known these potatoes to grow from J2 to 16 inches long on the sandy soil of New York Island, on the farm of J. M. Bradhurst, Esq., 9 milesnorth from the City Hall, on the Kingsbridge road, while as far south as the city of Wash- ington, in a clayey soi], they did not grow much longer than one’s finger.