Limestone. 27 



cement. In Europe, and I believe in New York, the blue argilla- 

 ceous limestone is employed, Pure lime, however, will answer the 

 purpose, if it be mixed with puzzolana or tarras. The former of these 

 substances is decomposing lava, and the latter decomposing Basalt. 

 I doubt not but that decomposing greenstone will answer as well ; 

 and if so, it can be found in abundance on the north of Boston, and 

 near Connecticut river, particularly in Greenfield and Deerfield. 

 Lava, basalt, and greenstone, are so much alike, that I think the lat- 

 ter well worth a trial. Indeed, if I recollect aright, the experiment 

 has already been successfully tried in New Haven, Ct. 



'As the Springfield limestone is abundant, it would be very desira- 

 ble to have it tried upon some land in the vicinity : for, if it answers 

 well in agriculture, (and I see no reason why it may not,) it might 

 prove an invaluable acquisition to the farming interest of the Con- 

 necticut valley. 



Postscript. Discovery of good Limestone in the Valley of the Con- 

 necticut. 



After the preceding remarks upon the limestones of Massachusetts 

 were written, I received specimens, through the kindness of Mr. 

 Henry W. Cushman, of crystalline carbonate of lime, found in Ber- 

 nardston, near the center of the town, and a short distance from the 

 stage road from Greenfield to Brattleborough, Vt. I immediately 

 visited the spot, and found, indeed, a large bed of limestone, connected 

 with quartz rock, or argillaceous slate, not less than fifty rods long, 

 and three or four rods thick, appearing at the summit of a hill, and 

 dipping nearly south east at a small angle. In the limestone is a 

 large bed of iron ore, which was dug forty or fifty years since, and 

 with the limestone sent to Winchester, N. H., to be smelted. Neither 

 the limestone, nor the iron have been thought worthy of attention 

 since.* But a kiln of the former has recently been burnt, and found 

 to produce a very strong lime, although of a rather darker color than 

 the white limestones generally produce. This results from a quan- 

 tity of the hydrate of iron, which penetrates the seams of the rock : 

 but this does not injure the stone for mortar, and probably even makes 



* April 1833. Large quantities of the limestone have since been burnt, and it 

 is getting into use extensively. If more kilns were in operation, probably there 

 would be a demand for the products. I am informed also that an effort is now- 

 making by an intelligent gentleman, to smelt the iron ore. 



