Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1865-06-16

Formation Of Soils.

IL - difficult Tor rs 70 believe that gl.-
eiers Ike those nov existing IN the Alrs.
once spread over al The Arclic regions and
extended down n loE a. the STA degree Of
North latitude.
Dr. Jackson Grit called attention 10 the
existence o. groovcd rooks IN Maine. in bis
Geological Survey q the State. We vii
remember the incr~dslity Of some Of the
most eniaeai G=clSis,s IN Easland Al thi.
annOuneement- On the shores Of Pcnob-
scot Bay. and IN kennebec aud Cuaber
land C0uniiCs. these grooves are everywhere
apparent wherever ledge has been m
covered These grooves run nearly north
and south.
Prof Agassiz has stadied this subject in
the Alps and in this country. nth most
gratifying s0cOess. AMI has Jas, gore 10
visit the Andes ~ South America for the
purpose Of Investigating the saun.s phcnou,e-
na thore- lie has lately ezga-ed on the
idea that al our gravel hill. AID soils are
the result Of glacial action. thar the t,rnperA-
tare OF the northern regions vas once warm
q taan nov. bringing IN - proofth- exs.s-
ence ofeicp,rants sil TO be found IN the
northern regions frozen IN the icr. ard that
n cold period st IN. IN ~hich IRE Ice and
snow was more than thousand s-et thick
that u formed the .-borse-backs - in ,liF,,,,t
parts Of the STATE. and transported the
bOulders from ttc arctic regions ana scatter.
ed them all over the country. and br n.
grinding. polishing ard rubbing processes,
Ger soils have been formed.
We have deg NJ On our o~n p-rn,...
Dor several years past. rcmarksbis series
81 boulders. having their sides cariou,Ir
erooved. answering Ia every rcsoec, 20 tl,e
description Of the Effects Of glacial sct;,,
on these rocks What i ravs,rrioa. 10 al.
> the fact. that We have never seen spv-
thing similar in any Other part Of fb, cs,n.
Try. aud W. have sought thrm from Hall
fax % New York ~iihout success. W.
can SHOW scorrs ofthem a. arv tine.
Vow The character % our SOILS depesl.
upon the kinds Of rocks employed. oar
granite soiis sre tie resuif Of tie grinding
up Of granite rocks The elements q s..h
a sol can be seen with the naked eve. II
limestone : broken up 3; leaves line 10
the soil We lave noiic.l this 4, -.
parts Of Monmouth n Wsfer.;Ii. -, a.
seen. rear The ste Of the COLLEGE. n.
Elects Of the brcakias up o. Cav .ls,e.
Iioes and running streams siff o., tbe 50
AMI deposit Il in heaps. Our meadows A.
formed Of the deeemp1sition Of veret,hi.
matter. II nc travel over some Dorfi,-.
OF Nova Scotia or Couaeciicus. - shah
see red sol Thas. IN general tern. We
see how soiis are formed from tIe ,ari.,.
kinds Of rocks Which have been esaplovea
FOR that purpose.
We generally estimate The ,alse OF soil
BY The depth 70 wLirL &, has been sH-e,,I
By vegetable We never see dcep ,er.t.-
bic matter in q sandhiI nor 10 bloc els,
ye' Tic vAiue Of = soil = modified bv n,
retention Of moisture ard tcmpcraiu-e
such are the principal uorhan.c.l ,-.o.
e4rs employed iu the formation Of our I'D.
The evidences are al around ~. III, a.,
surface u our globe Ia. been sub..r, a.,
disturbances far beyond our rraIv r,,c-,-
ton. 20 order % renIcrna n L.bif,,,o,
Tor nan Thee are siH o,Lcr aeencr. A.
work knoWn as iae eLlm.o.l aorces tbsf.r.
constantly At work IN preparing the .ol for
tne sr0~th Of plants. 80 man can be t,,
iAn'il'ar With tae structure and comps ition
OF The SOL. IL j. TIE Use q al D.. .sccr..
IN farming. and be Who j. iortunate enog-b
20 Possess productive one. a. fort.n.t. h.
deed.