The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1849-07-27
From tie Dollar Newspaper.
On the Origin and Diversity
al. soils.
RY FRoFEssoR q. corI1As.

then considered IN conneNon with prac.
teal agriculture, the subject vii be found
10 be very interesting and instructive.
purpose treating on these topics IN this and
subsequent articles.
The science OF geology explains those
natural agencies BY which soils have been
gradually and do.rIy produced, and which
have effected their distribution IN such
diversity Of character over the earlh's
surface. From partial examination oil
the surface, we might suppose that the III:
terror Of the earth was oil confusion and
irregularity sands and sraveis, limestones
and clays are mingled together without any
apparent order, aud hence 1t is that such
an opinion is actGli!y entertained by many
persons. The examination Of these super.
fetal accumulauons Of gravel, together with
the vegetable soil generally resting on
them, teaches Us little concerning the true
structure OF the earth, on the contrary, this
loose superficial matter, and this grassy
mantle covering The caf,h's surface, oniy
tends to mask and conceal its real features
from observation, and hence, to become
acquainted with The stfucur of the 10.
terror, we must examine a spot where the
crust of the earth has been bro ken, either
by natural OF artificial cause, ard pre-.
sents what biologists call natural or IT.
tihcial section, cs for example, q sea cliff
ravine, railway cutting, quarry or coal
mine, we shall then see that The crust OF
the earth is composed Of q series Of min
eral masses piled one above he other, and
observing regular order Of superpostlon.
II may be remarked here, that the ex.
animation Of The superficial gravels has
brough, 10 CHI many facts in relation 10
the revolutions which the carlh's surface
has undergone. " hen examined ,clen-
tifcaly, these Grayeis are found 10 consist
chiefly Of the decomposed substance Of the
underlying rocks or those in the lmmedi.
ale neish5orhroi, which have been trans
ported from the adlaceui hills by super.
fetal currents Of water. 1t IS common,
however, to find fragments of rock which
bear lndubiiable evidence Of having come
from considerable distance, there belng
no rock like them IN the neighborhood, or
for many miles around. The fact is, that
the superficial eraveIs constituting the d..
luvium aud sIlu. I'm OF the BIOLOGISTS, are
composed Of the wreck Of strata Of 81 ages,
alIuyial formations having occurred m all
ages, the J>integtalion Of rocks and the
transportation of their loose material hay.
ing taken place IN every period since the
surface Of the earth was first divided into
land and sea. Hence, II is an easy matter
10 pick up, out Of almos, eay collection Of
gravel, specimens ot granite, porphyry,
slate, sandstone, in short, OF almost every
kind Of primary, transition, and secondary
rock known 10 the geoioglst,
Now, although tile layers, OF strata, con.
sltutng the structure Of the mineral mas
ses which form be crust OF the globe, have
originally been deposited from water IN
the horiz yu'al posture, as l. evident from
their Identity IN structure with modern
strata formed by aqueous deposition o
sediment at the mouths Of rivers, or Gu The
coasts lefl dry by the retreat Of the sea
yet, nevertheless, owing to earthquake
which have taken place repeatedly, al,
q, cas-: intervals Of tine, the create
par, OF them have been thrown on. Of lh
horizontal posture and dip and strike int
the earth at every angle Of Inclination from
G. TO 81. Hence il Is that the edge Of III
beds emerge n succession from the bowe!
of the earth, aud ~ travelling over give
district We pass over The edges Of the VI
turned beds, the soil varying with ever
new bed and the amount Of superficial arr
covered By any particular soil, being
proportion to the thickness Of the upturn,
bed Out Of which the soil has been forme
The disturbance suffered By The STRAIT
however disastrous to animal life at q
time Of lis occurrence, has, ncyerlhete
been productive Of much ultimate good
Had The strata continued IN the horlzon'
posture, the same rock would have spre
over vas, extent Of country, and the so
Of countries would have been the same.
There would also have been a difficulty
obtaining valuable minerals which c
now be had with The greatest facility.
Coal, for example, which hes at cons
cradle depth could no, have been Obtain
without boring through the upper series
strata. The suffice Of the earth NO
not have been diversified with liz pre-
grand and beautiful scenery produced
mountain, hil and valley and that the
mirabe iulermIstufe Of mineral mat,
which is so essential to the fertility Of
soils, aud the variety and progress 0;
ganic life on the globe, would never h
taken place.
The whole suljec Of l.c formation
vegetable soils, and their distribution
such diversity Of character over the
Of the earth, is replete With the profou
est interes, and instruction. Every ca
quake which IN by.gone tune fractu
and dislocated the solid strata, every q
which has swcp, over the ancient cor
eat, every chlnss Of level which has
waited the bed p' lie ocean, Or depre
the land beneath rs surface. has contr
ted TO bring about The present admir-
iniermlxiute OF material sand, clay
lime, which nos forms the earlh's VI