15 



ing to the recent discovery of a variety of limestone along this 

 river, capable of forming the water proof cement. It is interest- 

 ing that this should be bronght to light, just at the time when it 

 •eeoied indispensable to the successful prosecution of a grand 

 work of internal improvement, which, to say the least, will be to 

 the western branch of the valley of the Connecticut, what that 

 noble river is to the eastern. The discovery is interesting too, 

 because, if I mistake not, the variety of limestone here employ- 

 ed, which is the bituminous, has never before been used for this 

 purpose. And finally, I might remark, that such are the associ- 

 ations of this limestone, that we may expect to find it almost any 

 where along this valley, between New Haven and Vermont.* 



But to return from this digression. 1 have now given a gen- 

 eral view of those principles of Botany, Chemistry and Geology, 



• The limestone chiefly employed in Europe and New York for water proof 

 eement is the blue argillaceous ; and I cannot learn that the bituminous has 

 •ver before been employed It is found along the Connecticut as one of ths 

 members of the coal Formation, which extends from East Haven, in Connec- 

 ticut, to Northfield, Massachsetts ; and hence we may hope to find this lime- 

 stone in any intervening place where this formation exists. It has already 

 been found in Middletown,Southington,WestSpringfield, and at Mount Tom. 

 I lake the liberty here to mention that gypsum and rock salt almost always 

 occur in connection with a soft red rock, usually Blaty, called Red Marie : and 

 on comparing specimens of the red marie which accompanies the gypsum in 

 New York and Nova Scotia, with one of the members of the coal formation 

 along the Connecticut, I cannot discern the least difference. I am not there- 

 fore altogether without hope, that beds of gypsum may one day be discover- 

 ed along this river. All light coloured and sofl rocks that are found in those 

 towns where the coal formation exists, (ex. gr. Longmeadow, Springfield, W. 

 Springfield, S. Hadley, Granby, Sunderland, Montague and Gill,) ehould be 

 examined with care. If they do not elFervesce by pouring on them oil of vit- 

 riol or aquafortis, they will probably prove to be gypsum, If tbey do efier- 

 Tesce, they are limestone. 



I have long thought it an object of great importance, in an economical point 

 of view, to most of the iahabitants of these counties, to discover withm their 

 limits a bed of common li»)estone, which by burning would furnish mortar 

 for the ordinary purposes of building : and 1 have known foi many years, 

 that a coarse variety of limestone exists in Williamsburg, Whately, Conway, 

 Goshen, Chesterfield, Deerfield, Shelburne, Ashfield, Buckland, Colrain, 

 Leyden, .^c. but I have never till the present time (Dec. '20lh.) found leis- 

 ure and opportunity to make any experinents with this stone as a mortar. 

 Having recently subjected some pieces of it to the heat of a chemical furnace, 

 it was converted into quick lime; and on being slacked, and a quantity of sand, 

 somewhat less than is usual, being mixed with it, it formed a mortar, which, 

 though very dark coloured, hardens, fur uught I can see, as soon and to as 

 great a degree, as lime mortar in general. If any gentleman is disposed to 

 pursue this experiment on a larger scale, I shall be happy to show him spe- 

 cimens of the limestone and the mortar, if he will call at the Laboratory of 

 Amherst College. 



