The general surface of the town is uneven and stoney.^ The land, however, is under good cultivation. The soil consists of a clay loam. The natural growth of wood is oak, chestnut, walnut, hickory, (fee, on the higher lands, and in the low lands, ash, birch, and maple. We have already shown that it is drained on the east by Byram river, and on the west by Blind brook, both flowing into Long Island Sound. Upon these streams are numerous mill seats. Among the principal mineral productions of the town may be noticed Chlorite, i^ '*a soft greenish substance, composed of minute scales, closely compacted together. It differs very little from soapstone," also Tourmaline, in long slender crystals.*^

« Disturneirs Gazetteer of N. Y.

b Rocks containing it are said to be Chloritic.

« See geological survey of the state, 1840,

COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 9?

SCARSDALE.

This town is bounded on the north by White Plains and Greenburgh, east by Mamaroneck, west by Greenbnrgh, and south by Eastchesfer and Rochelle. Under the colonial government it constituted a portion of Scarsdale manor, which also, embraced the greater part of White Plains and the townships of North and New Castle.f^

The place acquired its name from the Heathcote family, who originally came from Scarsdale, Derbyshire, England. "More onward, says the learned Camden, (describing that part of Derbyshire,) we see Chesterfield in Scarsdale, that is, in a dale enclosed with rocks: For crags were call'd scarrs by the Saxons." Under the Mohegan Indians Scarsdale is believed to have formed a portion of the Indian territory of Quaroppas, which was ceded to John Richbell by the Indian proprietors in 1660.