Notes on the fossil Fruits and Lignites of Brandon, Vermont 
By F. H. KNow tron 
(WITH PLATE 25) 
It is now almost fifty years since Professor Edward Hitch- 
cock published * the first account of the interesting lignitic deposit 
at Brandon, Vt. Many of the most characteristic species of fruits 
were figured and a general discussion given of the geological con- 
ditions under which they occur with an indication of the probable 
Stratigraphic position. Later, in 1861, Professor Leo Lesquereux 
published an elaborate paper in which he gave careful descriptions 
of the species, with a discussion of the relationships of the flora 
with those of certain European deposits. These two articles were 
published without change, in 1862, in Hitchcock’s Geology of Ver- 
mont, + and were further supplemented by a letter from Professor J. 
W. Bailey, t to show specimens of the lignite and fruits which had 
been submitted for microscopical study. Professor C. H. Hitchcock 
described § a single species of Carfolithes in 1862, which completes 
the list of articles relating to the subject, with the exception of oc- 
casional mention in works on geology, etc. 
Professor Hitchcock’s account of the geology and mode of oc- 
currence of this deposit is very complete, and I venture to give it 
in full : 
“In the autumn of 1851 Professor Shedd, of Burlington, pre- 
sented me with a few specimens of beautifully preserved fruits 
from Brandon, Vt. They were converted into brown coal, and 
retain exactly their original shape and markings. [Early in 
the spring of 1852 I visited Brandon, and found that the fruits 
Were obtained from a bed of brown coal connected with the white 
clays and brown hematite of that place. I perceived~at once that 
an interesting field was open before me, and ever since I have been 
endeavoring to exploit it. * * * I shall first give a description of 
* Am. Journ. Sci. II. 15: 95-104. 1853. 
t Pp. 226-234 ; 714-718. 
: ft Op. ctt., 239, 240. 
@ Portland Soc. Nat. Hist. 1: 95. p/. 7. f. 5. 1862. 
por 
