12a. THE ORANGE SAND, OR DRIFT.

This is an important formation with reference to agricultural features. After the deposition of the materials of the formation just mentioned, the whole of West Tennessee, the Western Valley and the western portion of the Rim, appear to have been swept over by waters which deposited unstratified sand and gravel over the whole region. The materials then deposited constitute the Orange Saud. West of the valley of the Tennessee River the formation is mainly orange, red or variegated sands. It covers superficially, as has been stated, much of the outcrops of the formations from 10a to 116 inclusive. The Orange Sand is a wide-spread coating of variable thickness, thinning out at places and exposing the underlying formations, like drifts of snow driven by the wind. Its materials differ so little from those of the underlying Cretaceous and Tertiary formations that they are often not easily distinguishable, and they have about the same agricultural value. Owing to the superficial character of the Orange Sand, it has not been represented on the map in any way. The beds of gravel occurring at so many points in the Western Valley are all referable to the Orange Sand, and the same may be said of the gravel which is found on the highlands and which is associated with the iron deposits of the Western Iron Belt.

Crowning the uplands of Shelby, Tipton, Lauderdale, Dyer and Obion is a stratum of fine siliceous loam, more or less calcareous, and usually of a light ashen, yellowish or buff color. This is the Bluff Loam. The formation contains land and fresh water shells, and frequently calcareous nodules. It has a thickness ranging from a few feet to one hundred. Memphis is built upon it. The Loam rests upon the Orange Sand, and is therefore of later age. Its area or belt is colored pink and is marked 126 on the Map. The eastern boundary of the belt must be taken as an approximation, as the eastern featheredge of the formation has not been, as yet, traced out accurately. The Loam caps the bluffs facing the bottom of the Mississippi, the Orange Sand first and then the La Grange group cropping out below this on the slopes.

13. ALLUVIUM.

The alluvial bottoms of all the rivers in the State are properly included in this division. They are the most recent deposits, and consist of washings which the rains have carried off from the uplands. The most important alluvial area is that of the Mississippi Bottom, and this is the only one indicated on the Map. All of the rivers, however, present level, alluvial tracts, which, in general, are of unsurpassed fertility. The Mississippi Alluvium is colored sage green and is marked 13.

CHAPTER IV.

RELATION OF GEOLOGY TO THE FARM.*

How would the farmer be benefitted by his understanding of geology? Can scientific and practical geology benefit the farmer? Could he produce more of the means of living by understanding geology?

The writer of this article will undertake to show that the farm can be much better managed by a knowledge of geology, and that no occupation of man depends so much upon a knowledge of that science for success as that of farming.

What is geology? It is the science which explains the origin and creation of the earth, in all of its parts, components, connections, relations, productions and reproductions. It explains the composition, structure and development of all rocks, soils, lands, mountains, ridges, valleys, plains, oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, springs, climates, light, heat, vapor, dew, rain, hail, frost, snow, ice, tides, oceanic currents, the seasons, currents of wind and their temperature. It explains the origin, creation and reproductions of the whole vegetable and animal kingdoms, their habits and natural laws.

A farm is a portion of the earth; it is a part of the subject of geology. It is cultivated ground-fields, pastures, meadows, orchards,

* This paper was prepared for the Bureau of Agriculture by the late Dr. F. H. GORDON just before his death, and is probably the last article which he ever prepared for the press. It will be read with mournful interest But few men in the State of Tennessee have equalled Dr. Gordon in the facility with which he could translate the mysteries of science so as to be comprehensible to the ordinary reader. His gifted pen did much to awaken interest in agricultural pursuits, and to lead the farmers to think for themselves. His name is inseparably blended with the progress of agriculture. For nearly fifty years his suggestions and essays have exerted a perceptibly salutary influence upon the farming community. Many a sterile spot has been reclaimed, many a home made beautiful in its eurroundings, many a barren woodland clothed in rich verdure, many an orchard made to teem with delightful fruits, many a dumb brute protected from the wintry blasts, housed and fed, many a family made happier in life and happier in death, through his teachings. His talent was not hid in a napkin, nor his light under a bushel; and it gives us sincere pleasure to place upon record the services rendered agriculture by this pure, christian gentleman, who, forgetting self in his desire to benefit mankind, toiled patiently, assiduously and persistently to advance the pursuit which lies at the very foundation of individual and national prosperity.

vineyards, nurseries, plant-beds, gardens, lawns, farm-yards, pounds, plantation roads, gates, fences, dwelling-houses, barns, stables, shelters, groves of timber trees, firewood, basket-willow, hedges, ditches, underdrains, plantation bridges, springs, ponds for fish, for stock water, for cranberries, rice, and for irrigation.

From the two definitions, any one may see what is the relation of geology to the farm. It is seen that a farm is but a small part of the materials of geology; hence, whoever understands well the geology of his own farm can produce a greater abundance of all the means of living than any one can do who does not understand it well.

A comprehensive definition to geology has been given; but modern geologists will sustain it. All the natural sciences are included in the wide field of geology; hence that science teaches the farmer so much that it will be impossible to do more, in this short essay, than to set forth its general teachings in the plainest manner, in order that the farmer may see how he would be benefitted by the study of it during his leisure hours. But before this is done, it will give satisfaction to some plain, honest farmers if we shall first answer a question which farmers are apt to ask: "If all good and profitable farming depends on a knowledge of geology, how is it that I get along well and make money by farming, when I know nothing about geology?" Many a farmer sincerely asks this question. The answer is easy. We say to that farmer, you do know something about geology; you know a great deal about it. Most of the knowledge which enables you to farm to advantage, is that much geology. Though you did not learn it directly from a book or agricultural journal, still you have learned it from your parents, your neighbors, and every one who showed you or told it to you. No matter where or how you got the knowledge, it is that much geology, which qualifies you to carry on your farm profitably. It would be difficult to find a man of common sense who knows nothing about geology. To make my position plainer-geology is nothing but the common sense of the farm, so far as agriculture extends. Hence, if any farmer has much practical good sense on his farm, he is to that extent a good geologist; and it makes no difference where he got his information-whether from conversation, agricultural papers, or from books. It is true, that if he had years ago resorted to books and agricultural papers, he would have learned what he now knows sooner and casier; and he would have learned more than he now knows, and therefore he would have been a more prosperous and better farmer than he now is.

Then suppose some such a farmer as is here described and answered, should still sneer at book farming, and make himself smart at the expense of some writer, who asks neither money nor praise for writing to benefit him and others. What then? He is only sneering because he does not know just a little more. If he knew a little more, he

would see how foolish he makes himself when he sneers at and ridicules his best friends; for whoever will show him how he can preserve his land from washing, and make it richer and more productive, with the same amount of labor now employed, ought certainly to gain his friendship, if not his gratitude. And whoever will show him how and prompt him to bring every idle acre of his farm into profitable pasturage and meadows, ought to be respected.

When a geologist undertakes to instruct and benefit a farmer, he expects to do it by explaining the nature of all things with which the farmer has to deal; and when he looks to the farm he finds a vast multitude of things to be studied. The farmer must have fully explained to his understanding the soil and subsoil, the rocks he stumbles over, the mountains, ridges, valleys, plains, the farm crops, plants, shrubs and trees, all domestic animals, all insects, worms and small vermin that infest the farm, the atmosphere and its part in production of climate, storms, rain, snow, ice, the part that light and heat perform in production, and the best methods of obtaining their full benefit to the growing crops.

To make all these subjects, and many more, plain to the farmer, the geologist must begin at the creation of the earth and all things on it.. Of course this cannot be fully and completely done in a short essay, therefore a general view only will be given.

When the world was created, it was a formless mass of air, water and earth all in a state of mixture. Then a separation was made so as to make three parcels, namely, earth, water and air. The solid earth was made nearly round, and then pressed up into mountains, ridges and valleys, and the water sank and flowed into the deep sinks and valleys, to form the oceans, seas and rivers. The earth was placed nearly ninety-six millions of miles from the sun, and made to move around it from west to east, and at the same time the earth to turn from west to east on its own axis or center of the whirling motion. This produces day and night, and the seasons of the year. Thus the air, heat and light were prepared to vitalize all vegetables and animals as fast as created. And the rocks of the mountains were reduced to powder or dust, out of which all plants, shrubs and trees were made.