S60 NATURAL AND CIVIL 



produce from one acre, is from four to five hiiri- 

 dred pounds. Every family raises a quantity 

 of flax, and carries on a small manufacture of 

 iinen. These domestic manufactures, are of the 

 highest importance to the people. When the 

 country shall be well settled, wool and flax will 

 become two of its most capital productions. At 

 present, there is not enough of either annually 

 produced, to supply the inhabitants. 



Great advantages may be derived to the 

 state, from the manufactures of iron. Large 

 quantities of iron ore are found in several of the 

 towns, on the west side of the green mountains. 

 Tinmouth, Rutland, Pittsford, and Shoreham. 

 contain great quantities. The ore in these 

 towns is of a reddish kind, mixed with earth 

 tinctured with yellow ocre. It melts easily, and 

 produces from one seventh to one fourth of iroUr 

 The iron is mostly of the coldshire kind, works 

 easily, and makes excellent nails. The princi- 

 pal part of the ore that has hitherto been used 

 in this state, has been brought from a mountain 

 on the west side of lake Champlain, about four 

 miles north of Crown Point. This ore is of a 

 black, heavy kind ; mostly iron, mixed with a 

 grey flint stone. The iron in this ore, appears 

 ifl large grains, some of them nearly as large as 

 a pea : These grains appear to be of pure iron. 

 Some of this ore is so peculiarly rich, that when 

 it is well managed, it will yield four sevenths of 

 pure iron ; but is exceeding hard to melt, 

 .When the ore is well worked, it produces the 

 best iron for chains, horse shoes, nails, &c. 

 and such matters as are drawn lengthways. 

 When applied to uses which require plaiting 



