duce. abundant crops of maize, wheat, and tobacco. There are also extensive orchards, which produce apples and peaches of good quality.
The northern section of this mountain region, or that which lies within the basin of the Potomac in Virginia, is divided by the Kitta tinny Chain into two natural divisions, which gradually lower as they proceed from south to north. Nearly the whole of that division of it which is inclosed by the Blue Ridge on the east and the Kittatinny Chain on the west, is drained by the Shenandoah and its affluents. It is comparatively level; and the soil is in most Farts stony, but, consisting almost entirely of limestone, it is generally fit for cultiva tion, and on the river bottoms it exhibits a considerable degree of fertility. The crops of wheat, rye, maize, and oats are tolerably abundant. But as the colder climate of this region favours the growth of grasses, the inhabitants pay more attention to the dairies and rear ing of domestic animals. North of the plain of Staunton the true character of the Alleghaniee reappears. Between 3S° 30' and 39* 10' N. 1st. the whole space between the two principal ranges is filled up by several elevated ridges, with their intervening valleys. These ridges rise as high as the Blue Ridge and run parallel to it. The valleys contain the best description of limestone-land, and are from two to three miles wide. They produce the same articles as are grown in the plain of Staunton, and cultivation extends at some please over the lower declivities of the Blue Ridge, but the ridges west of it are unfit for cultivation. The low tracts along the rivers are very fertile, but mostly used as grasslanda, for here too the rearing of .cattlo is more profitable than the cultivation of grain. The mountains are mostly covered with oak, pine, hickory, and chestnut The moun tain ridges which traverse the central basis of the Shenandoah extend northward to the bank,' of the Potomac, where they spread over the western districts, which contain only narrow valleys between high ridges, so that this tract is better adapted for pasture than cultivation. But ?s the space between these ridges and the Blue Ridge widens considerably north of 39' 10' N. lat., a plain occurs here, which
extends to the banks of the Potomac. Its surface is uneven and in sores parts hilly, but the slopes of the hills are not too steep for culti vation, and the ?oil is rather fertile, being what is called limestone land of the best description. Wheat, rye, maize, and tobacco are extensively grown. The cultivation of grasses is also carried on to some extent, and the orchards are numerous. This tract is considered the moat fertile In Virginia, and is very populous.
The basin of the Upper Potomac, or the country between the Kittatinny Chain on the west and the Allegheny Mountains on the east, may be considered as a terrace considerably elevated above the basin of the Shenandoah. Its surface is very elevated ; and it is traversed longitudinally by several ridges, which leave only narrow valleys between them. The toil of the valley. is either poor or of indifferent quality, except a fine tract of bottom ground on the south branch of the Potomac. As the climate is cold the crop? do not always succeed, and therefore the inhabitant' have turned their atten tion more to the rearing and fattening of cattle and keeping of other domestic animals, especially sheep. But in the country which approa-bee the north branch of the Potomao cultivation is more attended to. The grains, except maize, with flax and hemp, are culti vated. Fruit-trees are scarce, with the exception of apples and (sherries. Vegetables are extensively growo. The low land. and the slopes of the mountains are still to a great extent covered with forest.. On the top of the mountains and more elevated portions of the slopes are cedars, and pitch, spruce, and white pines; in Some places these tress base attained their full growth, but in others they aro stunted. The leas elevated grounds are overgrown with oak, beech, elm, black walnut, and hickory ; and on the low grounds along the bank, of the river; which are subject to be Inundated during the freshets, the woods consist mostly of sycamore-trees, plane-trees, and red or water maple.