Lake Coast.

The very gradual ascent of the coast renders a border of many acres liable to be overflowed, and has occasioned broad marshes along nearly its whole extent.

From the same cause, the streams, after flowing with a lively current, on approaching the coast subside to a level, and are affected by the fluctuations of the lake to the distance of two and three miles inland.

This joint action of the tide and current has given origin to several extensive deltas. Thus the approach to the city of Monroe, three miles inland, is through a circuitous channel, among islands of low alluvion, making a passage of six miles. A cut effected by the ship canal, now in progress, will shorten this distance one half. The unfavorable impression produced by the Raisin and other streams, at their entrance to the lake, is, however, removed, on tracing their course through the rich and varied interior.

At least one half of the whole line of coast presents a border of marsh, irrcclaimable, except at the will of the lake.

The most elevated portion of the coast is at Point aux Paux and Stony Point, near Brest. About one mile in extent has here an altitude of 5 to 8 feet, occasioned by an outcropping ledge of limerock.

The effect of the surf breaking upon the outer edge of the alluvial fields and islands is to accumulate detritus, brought up by the lake, occasioning sand beaches. These by successive additions assume the form of ridges,generally elevated about 4 feet. Beaches thus formed skirt the outer edge of the delta of the Raisin. A narrow ridge of sand is frequently seen protecting low marshy tracts in their rear. In a similar manner a spit of sand, four miles in length, forms the barrier to Ottawa bay. This has probably a base of limerock, with clay superimposed, which has been protected from the crosive action of the lake by the cover of sand at the same time deposited from its waters.

Soils and Timber.

The county is bordered on the east and west by heavily timbered clay lands, having a width varying from two to nine miles. This timbered tract, on the west, continues into the adjoining county.

The whole included portion, in width from eight to fourteen miles, and extending in northeast and southwest direction into the adjoining counties on the north and Ohio on the south, consists of sandy "openings" and plains, with a large proportion of wet prairie or marsh.

The heavily timbered tracts produce a large growth of oak, white and black ash, clm, lynn, beech, maple, white wood, black walnut and sycamore, evicing a rich and very durable soil.

Cotton wood is found in swamps, on the western edge of the county.

The timber of the plains and openings is mostly a yellow and white oak, often a thin and scattered growth, upon a meagre soil. Some clayey and more fertile portions produce hickory, and through Frenchtown and Raisinville, burr oak and chesnut are abundant.

The entire county may be said to be characterized by the great limerock formation, which is found to lie at no great depth throughout, and approaches the surface in at least twenty different places. Beds of clay and sand repose upon it. The former every where evince the proximity of the limerock by their extremely marly character, and the numerous, imbedded, angular fragments of the rock.

The outcrops of the limerock are found to lie in several distinct ranges, extending through the county in a northeast and southwest direction. The outer range, commencing at the southeast corner of town of Whiteford, forms there a ridge or step, having a rise above the general surface of 15 feet in a breadth of two miles. It passes thence in a nearly northeast course to Brest, occasioning those intermediate hillocks or protrusions of rock which occupy areas of from one half to two square miles. At Stony Point it comes out upon the lake in the ledge before mentioned, and still further on in the same direction makes its appearance on the islands at the mouth of Detroit straits and the neighboring shores.

The second range, from the town of Whiteford, where it apparently approaches the range first mentioned, passes through the northern part of the town of Ida, in a nearly direct line to Flat Rock.

West of this range, rock again appears on the Macon river, in the reservation, and in the Raisin at Dundee.

It

From all the data that could be obtained, the deposite of blue marly clay in the intervals between these ranges does not exceed in thickness 20 feet. Upon this rests a brown or yellow clay, similar to that which overlies the blue in Wayne county.* has a thickness of three to ten feet. This clay constitutes the basis of more than three-fourths of the soil of the timbered lands. Sand loams occasionally alternate with it, and in the town of Milan a rich black sand loam constitutes three-fourths of the soil.

*An analysis of 100 grains of these clays shewed

Siliceous matter,

Alumine,

Carb lime,

Iron,

Upper clay.

Lower clay.

The sand of the openings and plains has a depth probably not exceeding ten feet on the general level. Its surface is slightly undulating, and in a few instances considerable ridges rise abruptly. One of these was observed bounding the heavily timbered lands of the town of Erie, succeeded by others having no uniform direction, and varying in height from six to fifteen feet; wet, grassy swales intervening. I traced one of them for a mile in a northerly direction. A sand ridge borders the prairies in the southwest corner of Ida. It continues for half a mile in a northeast course, attaining to fifteen feet in altitude, with the breadth of one hundred, and terminates by a sudden descent. Similar ridges may be observed on the plains near Sandy creek, town of Raisinville.

Marshes and Wet Prairie,

characterize the plains, or whole central portion of the county, comprising nearly one fourth their surface. They prevail under several modifications, and may be classed as the larger or wet prairie, occupying frequently an extent of several miles, and the smaller or swales, seldom exceeding an area of 20 acres. They differ also in character, according to the nature of their substratum. The latter class have generally a subsoil of clay, with a covering of peat or muck deepening proportionally to its extent. Its average is one foot. They afford a coarse grass, (a species of Carex,) much relished by cattle. Where the substratum is sand, a small wiry species generally prevails, considered of inferior quality. Beneath this sand stratum, however, clay will without doubt be found at no great depth.

Prairies of much greater extent occupy a large portion of the town of Ida, the southern part of Summerfield and the eastern part of Whiteford. About five sections of the latter townships are of this character; nine sections in Summerfield, and eighteen in Ida. The soil is a fibrous peat, of one to two feet, and occasionally much greater depth, generally reposing upon sand. It produces a rank growth of wild grass but little valued.

These marshes are portions of a connected chain and have outlets discharging into considerable streams. Facilities thus exist for rendering them available to agriculture by a proper system of drainage, and at comparatively inconsiderable expense. The experiment has been made to some extent in the town of Whiteford, and a tolerable soil for tillage produced. A crop of wheat is said to have been grown upon the tract known as "White's marsh." But it should not be cause for discouragement if seve ral years are required to test fully the value of such experiments. No such cause will exist when the nature of the soil to be dealt with is properly understood.

Similar marshes exist around the head branches of Swan creek in Exeter, uniting with those described in town of Huron, Wayne

county. They are supposed to occupy one half of the surface of the township north of Stony creek.

Small ponds of the lily and other aquatic plants are numerous upon these prairies. A large proportion of the prairies and swales are dry only at midsummer.

Peat.

The upper soil of the marshes and swales above mentioned is of the kind denominated fibrous peat; an accumulation, simply, of the annually decaying vegetation. On drying, it will be found a light spongy substance, which may be reduced to an impalpable powder; a character but ill fitting it to become, singly, a fertile soil. When, therefore, it occurs unmixed with argillaceous or siliceous matter, it is to be doubted whether the most thorough drainage will render it permanently available, unless care is taken to subject it to irrigation at proper seasons, by closing the drains, and it be united with a proportionable admixture of earths. This admixture may often be effected by bringing up the subsoil by deep ploughing. The washings from the sandy plains adjoining, when cultivated, will further assist the process.

A coat of lime sown upon the surface would prove a most useful auxiliary. This would exert the tripple effect of absorbing moisture, hastening the decomposition, and bestowing one of the most important ingredients of a good soil.

The application of this peat to the soil of the plains, much of which is sterile, would be productive of very important benefit. To effect this, it ought first to be carried to the manure heap and there become thoroughly decomposed by mixing with quick lime. When applied, this should be at once ploughed under. The fine fibre of peat would dry and dissipate if left upon the surface.

When the comparative expense of cutting drains to that of clearing timbered lands, the immediate applicability of these tracts, and their utility in furnishing manure to the sterile soil adjacent, are considered, it will be apparent that the value of these portions of the county is not over-estimated.

Limerock.

The ranges of this rock before described, have a direction through the county which corresponds to the line of bearing, or is at right angles to the inclination of the strata. The dip is, consequently, northwest, or northwest by north; very obvious in the outer range, and about 5 in amount.

The color varies from light shades of gray to dark blue. It is mostly compact, but exhibits all that variety of character for which the "mountain limerock," is distinguished. This will best appear in the following more extended notice.

It occurs in the bank of Swan creek, at Newport, and in its

bed for the distance of two miles above, where to a small extent it has been quarried for economical purposes. The stone is of dark, gray color.

Stone of a similar character appears a mile northeast of Brest, (section twenty-four,) and has been quarried to small amount.

At Point au Peaux it exhibits a vesicular or slightly oolitic structure in the lower layers. Superimposed are four feet of disruptured masses, of a more compact character.

Limerock appears in the bed and bank of Stony creek, at Brest, where it has been penetrated to depth of four feet. The thickest stratum opened was of three feet. It has a light, gray color, approaching white. It is compact, and some portions siliceous; considerable hornstone is contained. The stone is quarried in irregular, small blocks, suited to rough building.

The ledge appearing at Stony point, resembles in character the rock on Swan creek. It contains sulphate of strontian.

Limerock forms the bed of Sandy creek, at a distance of two miles from the lake.

The

The city of Monroe is underlayed by limerock at a depth of from two to five feet. The rock is quarried to small extent in the bank of the Raisin, near the city. Extensive quarries have been opened in the valley of Plumb creek, half a mile south of the city. The excavations reach to the depth of nine feet. succession of strata passed through presents a variety of characters. The vesicular limestone observed at Point au Peaux again appears associated with siliceous portions and compact strata, variegated with yellowish and blueish spots and veins, having the appearance of veined marble. These bear a tolerable polish, and might serve for ornamental purposes. At depth of nine feet a stratum occurs of dark blue color and veined.

The stone is said to improve with depth, both for lime and building purposes. If this be the fact, it may be advisable to excavate lower down the creek, where, owing to the direction of the dip, these more valuable strata may be supposed to lie nearer the surface.

The stone is mostly quarried in angular pieces of small dimensions, but slabs are said to be obtainable of size sufficient for door and window sills, &c.

Limerock forms the bed of Otter creek, at Winchester, and for the distance of eight miles above. It is hard, of a bluish gray color.

Following the range southwest, we find a ridge or hillock composed of limerock, on sections thirty-one and thirty-two, of Lasalle, and one and two of the township of Erie. It appears over an area of more than a square mile, having an elevation of about ten feet above the level on the south. The stone, so far as penetrated, (five feet,) is of a light color, striped, and portions