r4G 



THE FARMER'S MONTHLY VISITOR. 



brated, was enahied successfully to maintain him- 

 self above tbe surface of tlie water. Finding his 

 efibrts to reg:iin the boat unavailing-, be turned for 

 the shore, when bis brutal companion, in making 

 a renewed attempt upon him, lost his balance, and 

 was precipitated within the waters. In this dilem- 

 ma, when huma,n aid was beyond reach, and when 

 his bufl'etings would soon have been succeeded by 

 the gurglings which precede dissolution, the dog 

 with capacious js.ws sei/.ed his arm, and broiigUt 

 him alive to dry land." 



To the Editor of the Montlilv Visitnr. 

 Dear Sir ; — I could think of no better plnue to 

 make the following observations public, than in 

 your valuable paper, end would say the peculiar 

 time in which we live, in my epinion, ought to en- 

 list every lover of the natural sciences, more es- 

 pecially as the authorities of this State are about to 

 investigate, and actually have made an appropfia- 

 tion for a Geological survey of the State. The 

 very limited knowledge of ibis science among the 

 agricultural and mechanical part of our inhabitants, 

 is a sufficient excuse for any one who has been 

 looking into the several branches of physics or the 

 nature of things, for some thirty years, to offer his 

 mite to entice more able minds to engage in this 

 noble enterprise — and throw open to the world a i 

 Geological knowledge of the valuable soils and rich 

 formations in our own Slate, so very useful to ev- 

 ery class of the community. And as yoin- readers 

 may not all of them be prepared to receive even the 

 following imperfect Geological description v.'ithout 

 some introduction to the first principles of that sci- 

 ence, I thought proper to preface my observations 

 with a fev/ remarks. 



Geology is a science which treats of the de- 

 composition and changes to which the stony part 

 of our globe has been subjected : it is aknov/ledge 

 of the crust of the earth, at its extent not compre- 

 hending more than from two to five miles deep, 

 which is all the part of our globe that has ever been 

 or probably ever will be e.xplored by the human 

 mind, and much of our knowledge of this is reas- 

 oning from analogy. The time has been when the 

 present theory of Geology, or Geological hypoth- 

 esis would have been considered Atheistical, and 

 the promulgator w-ould have been hunted and per- 

 secuted as a visionary fanatic ; but science has 

 spread her lucid rays, so that Viliat has been con- 

 sidered wild speculation is now not only possible, 

 but consistent with Divine Revelation, or the Mo- 

 saic account of Creation. 



"God created all things in si.x days." As there 

 was no sun or firmament to measure tiine,*il|d "as 

 one day with him is as a thousand years, and a 

 thousand yeart.- as one day," a very long succession 

 of time might have transpired previous to this 

 world taking the form in which it now appears. 



"And the earth was without form and void, 

 and darkness was upon the luce of the deep." As 

 all matter is composed of atoms, would it not be 

 consistent that God would create it in its simplest 

 form, and in its most subtil or fusible state .' In an 

 aeriform vapor or fluid state as in this, the particles 

 would be more under the influence of the great 

 laws of gravitation and attraction, which he also 

 created, and to which he subjected them. 



Now it is agreed by all naturalists that the nu- 

 cleus or primitive part of this globe consists of 

 stone, known by the name of granite. This forma- 

 tion at least is the b^-sis of our knowledge, and up- 

 on this substance it is that all matter ot; posterior 

 formation rests, and this is consistent with the laws 

 of gravitation. Allowing all matter in chaos and 

 fluid, the most ponderous part would settle to the 

 bottom or centre. Hence another theory ; as more 

 rarified substances beconie solids, heat is evolved, 

 and it is evident in the formation of the primitive 

 rocks, great heat was present. As they are very 

 different from the stratified rocks, or those of the 

 secondary or tertiary formation, they are evi'dently 

 melted and consolidated under a high degree of 

 heat and pressure, and not by deposition from wa- 

 ter as are the stratified rocks. Within the crust of 

 the primitive rocks may have been included parti- 

 cles of matter of chemical attraction for each oth- 

 er. Hence changes were making for a long series 

 of time ;, eruptions and developemcnts of air and 

 heat, causing many of the great evolutions of na- 

 ture, rending the primitive rocks, throwing up 

 mountains, islands and even continents, into their 

 present existence, or subject to other changes. 



Geoloo"ical science supposes this earth in the 

 stages oi' formation, even during the deposition of 

 the stratified rocks, to have been in a much higher 

 degree of temperature than at present, and not ca- 

 pable of sustaining the present species of animal 

 and veifetable creation. May it not have been prob- 

 able, that God created different species of a higher 



grade and greater growth, suited to the former tem- 

 perature of the earth, and in his wise Providence 

 destroyed them, by deluge or some mighty inun- 

 dations, before this earth was prepared to nourish 

 the pres-ni species or even man.' Would this be 

 inconsistent with the Mosaic account of Creation, 

 or detract from the glory of God.' Far north in the 

 temperate zone, specimens have been found in the 

 older stratified rocks, both of vegetable and animal 

 growth, now extinct, far exceeding an)' thing at 

 present found in the tropical regions. The vast 

 beds of coal of every description found in our world, 

 are now acknowledged to be of vegetable produc- 

 tion, and must have been the invelopement of large 

 quiintitios of vegetable growth, subjected to intense 

 heat under great pressure, long before any history 

 of man. The face of this cartli, the effects of the 

 diluvial current, supposed to be caused by evolu- 

 tions, throwing up large tracts of country, or ran- 

 ges of mountains, while the surface was covered 

 with water, show that great changes have taken 

 place since the first formation.The nnevenncssof the 

 surface, high towering hills, projecting of the prim- 

 itive rocks and their being rent in pieces, and carried 

 in bowlder.5 over the flrce of the eartii, are some of 

 the traces of the great changes which must have 

 taken place previous to any historical acconnthand- 

 ed down by man. Probably some of the most re- 

 cent may have taken place at the time of the Mo- 

 saic flood, and the morerecent rending of the rocks 

 may have been at the time the God of Nature suf- 

 fi^red at the death of our Lord Jesus Christ. But 

 these are vastly too recent to account for those lime 

 worn traces, discovered by geologists. There prob- 

 ablyhave been many inundations and deluges before 

 those of which we have any account previous to 

 and preparatory of the existence of man. With 

 these few hints 1 would refer your readers to books 

 on Geology, and proceed with the fellowing obser- 

 vations made a few weeks since, on a journey from 

 Hopkinton to Dartmouth College, in company with 

 two I members of the junior class in that Institution. 

 The Topographical Geology on this route is cf 

 the majestic approaching to the sublime, in many 

 places, which my limits will not permit me to no- 

 tice separately. In passing from Hopkinton vil- 

 lage, the traveller ascends Putney's hill, a beauti- 

 ful range of diluvial soil, rich with nature's pro- 

 ductions: the rocks are of coarse granite, compos- 

 ed of quartz, mica, felspar, hornDpnde and schorl, 

 colored more or less with iron: m places, speci- 

 mens of snlphuret of iron are seen crumbling to 

 pieces by the operation of air, water and frost — 

 Over Putney's hill bov.'lders are scattered ; some of 

 them are large, mostly worn : rounded, denoting 

 iheir passEiffe from a distance; their location dis- 

 tinctly' sltows. t It diluvial current which lodged 

 them, to be nearly thAanie course of tlie road, viz: 

 from northv.-est to southeast, or perhaps bearing 

 more into the south. As you proceed, a deposition 

 of numerous small bowlders, gravel and sand warns 

 the traveller that no .o-reat disturbance in the prim- 

 itive rofck has taken place in nearly that direction. 

 Drawing near to the Contoocook river the soil is 

 flat, gravelly, or sand}', and in some places alluvi- 

 al, yet mostjv of the diluvial deposition, and the 

 rocks approach more to the fine granite. In some 

 places towards the north part of the town, the 

 bowlders are large and denote some of nature's 

 greater works, but no primitive rock is seen from 

 the road whence they were taken. 



The highway from Hopkinton through Warner, 

 passes up a valley winding round the hills whose 

 mural faces furnish a fine field for Geological re- 

 searches. Very little alluvial soil maybe seen near 

 the Warner river. 



In the north part of Warner the sublimer works 

 of nature develope themselves, and it would seem, 

 that some of Milton's angels who tossed tlie moun- 

 tains might have been present during the diluvial 

 formations. Bowlders of all sizes from the pebble 

 to several hundred tons, in all possible shapes, some 

 worn from continual friction and hard blows, oth- 

 ers retaining their sharp corners and original shape 

 as if near by their own deposite, in some places 

 are hurled in profusion one upon the top of 

 another; in other places more thinly scattered, 

 rather increasing in thickness and size, showing 

 their more recent removals, or less distance from 

 their fountains; when you behold within a few- 

 miles, evidently the place whence they were taken, 

 where the primitive ledge deep bedded had raised 

 its hia-h head, part of which was literally torn out 

 and carried off by the diluvial current in some of 

 the great evolutions of the earth, to form the bowl- 

 ders above mentioned. A new and difl'erent form- 

 ation succeeds ; the bowlders are of a light color, 

 partaking more of the fine granite or gneiss, and 

 are thrown upon the side of the hills, as if washed 

 by the current filling the deep valley; more nu- 



merous and larger on the sides of the prominences 

 projecting into the valley, as if obstructed in their 

 passngc, or tumbling over the height, had been left 

 by the current subsiding, or too weak to raise them 

 over. These deposites may be traced up into Sut- 

 ton, where the high rough heads of the primitive 

 rocks, raised into mountains, show themselves ma- 

 jestically, evidently torn out and scattered sls a- 

 bove. 



Advancing towards the height of land in Spring- 

 field, the bowlders becrtme very numerous and large 

 and in every shape, of various com]>03ition. I ob- 

 served some examples of trap rock, crystalized 

 quartz, schorl, mica, and one specimen similar to 

 load stone. The lower beJs of the primitive rocks 

 were smooth, and worn probably by the passage of 

 so many bowlders over them. On the heights I 

 likewise observed, the rocks in their original beds 

 were very solid and but very little broken. Bowl- 

 ders are few, and for several miles beyond the 

 heights, few or none to be seen. In Enfield the 

 granitedips, and near the Shakers' village, the stra- 

 tified rock appears, and argillaceous slate is quarri- 

 ed fijr mechanical use. 



The walls and rocks for a few miles appear very 

 different on passing into Lebanon. Bovv'ldcrs 

 of granite or gneiss are seen, and increasj as 

 you progress toward Hanover ; and on the road 

 from Lebanon village to Dartmouth College is a 

 beautiful display of the diluvial current. For sev- 

 eral miles the fine granite bov.-lders are copiously 

 lodged upon the sides of the bills, some places in 

 prolusion. When the eye of the Geologist is en- 

 gaged in viewing more beautiful specimens all at 

 once, it falls upon the bed of granite whence they 

 came ; and the excavation by their removal is dis- 

 tinctly to be traced within a few rods of the high- 

 way on the right hand. After passing this, anoth- 

 er composition commences and continues to Dart- 

 mouth College, the origin of which probably may 

 be traced beyond. 



In the whole distance there appears to be more 

 recent operations on many rocks, than can be at- 

 tributed to ancient diluvial currents. They are fre- 

 quently cracked open and the parts remaining ex- 

 actly fitting each other. Some are thrown atadis 

 tance, and a difl'erent course from the diluvial cur- 

 rent, and must have been some great evolution 

 since those bowlders were lodged there, probably 

 from earthquakes, and the continual changes going 

 on from water, frost and air. But to account fur 

 the splitting of rocks of several hundred and oven 

 thousands of tons and their removal, the human 

 mind cannot contemplate any thing short of a su- 

 pernatural Power, and to the believers iu Christi- 

 anity, the mind most readily rests on that great 

 drama of apostolical account two thousand years 

 ago, w-henlhe rocks were rent. 



"^It will be readily seen that the foregoing obser- 

 vations are very imperfect, as they were made on a 

 passage in a private carriage of fifty miles in one 

 day. GEOLOGIST. 



For the Faiiiier'.s Mniitlily Visilor. 

 IVheat ; the "Buckeye ;" the Honey Lo- 

 cust, ami Estoraatos, from Ohio. 



De.ik Sir :— 1 sent you, by your son (Andrew) 

 a sai^ple of the wiiite wheat of Ohio; from 

 which their first quality of flour ::, produced ; also, 

 a "Buckeve"niuch resembling the Kuropean Horse 

 Chesnulsj both as regards the nut itself, and the 

 tree producing it. It is the first tree in that region 

 which puts forth leaves in the spring : and gives 

 the popular name to the inhabitants of Ohio, of 

 which tliey are extremely proud. 



I also sent a thorn from the Honey Locust, which 

 tree is a great curiosit}'. The trees grov/ to a tol- 

 erable size. The v.-ood is strong and durable, fur- 

 nishino- excellent niateri.-ils for treenails in boat or 

 ship building. The fruit is a large red pod, like a 

 case knife bean, containing seeds resembling those 

 of the Tamarind, but much smaller; and a thick 

 glutinous sweet pulp. The tree is armed with 

 thorns, projecting in every direction, covering the 

 trunk and branches, so that to climb it is almost 

 possible. 



The tliorn sent you, was taken from a large tree 

 in Dover, Tuscarawas Co. standing by the canal. 



The seed of the yellow Estoniatos which 1 send 

 you, was brought from Ohio three years ago. It 

 has flourished well in this climate. This species is 

 not inferior to the red in any particular, and is by 

 many thought to be more delicate in its flavor. — 

 This plant is one of the most valuable and produc- 

 tive in the gardener's catalogue. When the Chol- 

 era raged at Cincinnati, some years since, it was 

 found'to be an excellent remedy ; and in several 

 instances persons given over by their physicians, 

 have ascribed their cure to the eating of ripe Esto- 

 niatos, in .-. raw state. One jpcrson iu almost the 



