184 PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. 



and scarcely anything with fruit trees. The staple crops are grain, oats, 

 and potatoes, no county in the United States yielding better results for 

 the latter article than this. On this account there are many manufacto- 

 ries of potato starch here. 



As the topography of this district is of special geological interest, a 

 whole chapter will be devoted to it, prepared by Mr. Huntington. 



III. White Mountain Area. The White Mountains of New Hamp- 

 shire cover an area of 1,270 square miles, bounded by the state line on 

 the east, the Androscoggin river and the Grand Trunk Railway on the 

 north-east and north, the Connecticut river valley, or an irregular line 

 from Northumberland to Warren, on the west, the less elevated region of 

 Baker's river on the south-west, the Pemigewasset river and the lake 

 district on the south. The Pemigewasset valley makes a prominent 

 notch in it in Thornton and Woodstock. The Saco river cuts the White 

 Mountains into nearly equal parts ; and it may be convenient sometimes 

 to speak of what lies on the east and the west sides of this stream. 



The mountains may be grouped in ten sub-divisions. 1. Mt. Starr 

 King group. 2. Mt. Carter group. 3. Mt. Washington range, with a 

 Jackson branch. 4. Cherry Mountain district. 5. Mt. Willey range. 

 6. Mts. Carrigain and Osceola group. 7. Mt. Passaconnaway range. 

 8. Mts. Twin and Lafayette group. 9. Mts. Moosilauke and Profile 

 division. 10. Mt. Pequawket area. Divisions 2 and 3 may be termed 

 "Waumbek" for convenience, and divisions 5, 6, and 8 may receive the 

 name of "Pemigewasset." 



Considered as a whole, the main range would commence with Pine 

 mountain in Gorham, follow the Mt. Washington ridge, cross the Saco 

 below Mt. Webster, and continue south-westerly by Nancy mountain, Mt. 

 Carrigain, Mt. Osceola, and terminate in Welch mountain in Waterville. 

 Another considerable range may be said to commence with the Sugar 

 Loaves in Carroll and Bethlehem, and continue westerly by the Twin 

 mountains, Lafayette, Profile, Kinsman, and Moosilauke. A third of some 

 consequence might embrace the Carter range, with Iron mountain in 

 Bartlett. These mountain groups differ much in geological character, 

 age, and marked topographical features. 



1. Mt. Starr King Group. This has not been explored very exten- 

 sively, and it is not so much frequented by visitors as most of the other 



