Page:The plains of Long Island.djvu/6

 the obvious fact, that the soil of the island is formed by a detritus, either raised from the bed of the sea, or cast upon the pebbly beach by the waters of the Hudson and the streams of Connecticut. The process by which the island may have been formed by this accretion, can at this day be constantly traced upon the sand reefs, which Providence has caused to be thrown up along the southern coast of the island, forming a vast natural breakwater, to which the low shore of the island owes its only protection from the surges of the ocean. The sea-sands first accumulate; upon these spring the coarse aquatic grasses, and these, in the memory of man, are succeeded by a nutritious vegetation. Such may have been the operations of nature, by which the uniform soil I have described was gradually spread like a mantle over the surface of the island. I was informed of a singular geological formation, which I was not able, however, to examine. This is a horizontal stratum of soil, about half a mile wide, ranging in a course northeast and southwest, through parts of the towns of Oyster Bay and Hempstead, and from its peculiar color, known as the "Red ground." It is enclosed on the west by a black earth, and on the east by the prevailing yellow soil. This red stratum is said to be remarkably fertile.

It is not necessary to invoke the aid of science, to determine the singular identity of the elements of the soil throughout the whole island. I collected specimens from the cultivated farms near Brooklyn, Smithtown, and on the south shore, and from the Hempstead plains and the Bush plains in various places. These specimens are deposited at the Society's rooms, and any person, by inspection, will readily determine their remarkable similarity.

—The climate of Long Island is distinguished for its mildness and salubrity. These qualities become more apparent as the surface is opened by improvement to the circulation of air and the influence of the sun. Mr. Thompson states that the thermometer rarely falls to zero, or rises to ninety degrees of Fahrenheit. Its insular form, bathes the island perpetually in a marine atmosphere, which imparts a genial moisture, while, as I have remarked, the sea breezes mitigate the rigors of winter, and relieve the intense heat of summer. The influence of the Gulf stream I have already referred to, and I may add that this influence is augmented by the marked prevalence of southerly winds. The frost penetrates the earth only in a slight degree, and the surface is seldom covered by snow more than a few weeks in the season.

I found it to be the general impression with intelligent men, that the farmers of Long Island enjoy, on account of the mild temperature of the climate, an average of about forty working days in the year, more than those above the Highlands. This is a fact of great significance, in estimating the value of these lands for agricultural purposes.

It seems to be admitted that the island rarely suffers from drouth. The sea air, always charged with moisture, constantly refreshes vegetation. The Rev. Mr. Johnson spoke of the extraordinary dews which characterize the island, and which, he remarked, are not unfrequently so heavy