ggQ BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Roofing Slate. 



As it required some little time, after arriving at Patten, to pre- 

 pare for a tour in the forest, what leisure I had was spent in excur- 

 sions in that vicinity. The rock formation in this neighborhood, 

 as you have stated in a former report, I found to be slate. In some 

 localities I found it to exhibit good qualities for roofing slate. 



On the premises of Hon. Ira Fish, about a mile and a half from 

 the village, and on the north bank of the Mill stream, this slate 

 crops out in the form of a bluff, of moderate height, from which we 

 obtained excellent specimens. From a cursory examination, as far 

 as the surrounding forest would allow, I am led to the conclusion 

 that a good quarry might be opened here with a prospect of its 

 yielding a large supply of this useful material of very fine quality. 

 It cleaves readily, giving a smooth even surface, and possesses the 

 requisite tenacity to allow of its being dressed and pierced, or 

 punched in the usual manner. 



Conglomerate Boulders. 



A large proportion of the boulders found around the village of 

 Patten are conglomerate. None of this rock is found here in place 

 except in one locality. This was in the bed of the stream, near 

 the lower grist-mill. One of the abutments of the bridge, which 

 crosses the stream there, is built upon it. The extent of it is 

 not manifest, as it soon dips below the bank and is hidden deeply 

 in the earth. 



Granite Bluf. 



But little granite is seen after you pass above Lincoln. I had 

 an opportunity through the politeness of Mr. Haines of Patten, to 

 visit Island Falls on the Mattawamkeag, about ten miles north- 

 easterly from Patten. About two miles east of the falls, is a re- 

 markable blufl' of coarse crystalline granite, rising up abruptly to 

 a height of at least three hundred feet. In some places it forms 

 perpendicular precipices presenting all the rude, broken, craggy 

 piles and confused heaping up of angular fragments, usual in such 

 formations. It is of rather coarse texture, and therefore would 

 require considerable labor, skill and care in dressing and preparing 

 it for building purposes. This is probably the most northern locali- 

 ty where granite is found in place in this section of the State. I 

 subsequently had an opportunity of tracing this formation, in a 



