Page:The plains of Long Island.djvu/12

 question naturally arises, why so extraordinary a state of things exist, and whether there is any fiat of nature that irrevocably condemns this vast tract to perpetual desolation and uselessness. Everything associated with the physical qualities of this beautiful island seems peculiar and striking, and unlike the characteristics of any other region. The existence of this uncultivated wilderness, is not the least singular and impressive of these phenomena. It is perhaps unnecessary to attempt an explanation of this strange circumstance. I may, however, offer one brief suggestion. At the first occupation of the island the settlers naturally clustered about the harbors and bays on the coast. Public roads, in consequence, were constructed along or near the north and south shore. None penetrated this tract. This was inaccessible while other sections of the island presented greater attractions and were easily accessible. The inhabitants became attached to the delightful regions they cultivated. In the meanwhile fires desolated the plains, because they were not protected, as it appears the occupied portions of the island were, by statutory regulations, from this danger. They were disregarded and neglected. Under these circumstances the opinion was gradually formed, that they were not adapted for cultivation. This idea was adopted without investigation, was strengthened by years, descended from father to son, until it has become incorporated in the popular mind as an established and incontrovertible fact.

It is my design to briefly examine the accuracy and justice of these opinions and to exhibit a series of facts which will tend, I think, to illustrate the subject.

—No term applied to land was ever more erroneously used than the designation of the plains of Long Island as "Sand barrens." Neither term is either true or appropriate. A traveler passing along the line of the Long Island railroad will be deceived as to the character of the soil. The under stratum of coarse gravel has necessarily been cast up in the construction of the road, and this the casual observer will naturally suppose to be the soil of the country. I examined, with much care, various localities on the plains, and found everywhere a remarkable identity in the structure and qualities of the earth and a great similarity to that which occurs at Flatbush and Brooklyn. There prevails the same superficial loam, from one to three feet deep, then succeeds small gravel mingled with the loam, which rests upon the uniform foundation of coarse and rounded gravel. Clay is everywhere, on the plains, the predominant ingredient of the soil. I collected specimens in various spots, and for convenience moulded them into balls. When these had become hard, I could not separate the particles with my fingers, but was obliged to use a hammer for the purpose. The balls had acquired the consistency of a brick. I was shown by Doctor Peck, houses at North Islip, which had been constructed of sun dried brick, made from the soil in the immediate vicinity. The holes from which the earth had been taken for the purposes were pointed out to me. The excavations were on the loam or surface soil.

Mr. Harold informed me that walls were erected from the clayey soil of