78 MAGNESIAN SLATE. 



poundotl witli the calcareous matter of tlie Sparry and Stockbridge limestones, it forms an 

 excellent soil siiilahle for maize. 



Tiif liills rapix'il with this slate are all rounded; the sides, however, are quite steep, 

 particularl\- upon ilie norlliwestcrn slope. The scenery, through a great extent of country 

 north and south, is very uniform, but is occasionally bold in the highest parts of the chain. 

 The most interesting and generally admired view is that of the Hopper and Gray Lock, 

 about five miles southwest of Williams College. The mountains here consist of two 

 ridges : the western or lowest ridge, which is about eighteen hundred feet high, is broken 

 through, or into two parts, quite to the foot of the ridge, nearly west of Graylock. Plate 

 XIII. is a view of Graylock and the western ridge, which has been broken down so as to 

 exhibit the higher and easterh- ridge, the summit of which is known as the highest land 

 in New-England. In some parts of tliis elevated region, rocks are bare for hundreds of 

 feet in elevation, with a steep slope, and may, without much difficulty, be examined from 

 the base to the top ; still the summits are thickly clothed with soil, and good pasturage is 

 obtained upon the highest parts of the ridges. 



The view at the head of this section illustrates the appearance of the Taconic range gene- 

 rally. It was taken from the south part of Stonehill in Williamstown (Massachusetts) , 

 looking south. TJie hills are composed of slate gravel, and the rocks are usually deeply 

 covered with soil. Most of the hills and ridges of this range abound in chesnut, intermixed 

 with black and white oak : the highest portions of the ridges are clothed with white birch 

 as a second growth. Sugar maple {./leer saccharimim) frequently forms by itself large 

 groves. Beech also abounds ; and ash, bass, walnut and soft maple are intermixed, and 

 assist in making up the forest. The northern slopes of the higher ridges are usually 

 clothed with black timber, consisting of spruce and hemlock. The slopes of these ranges 

 are beautiful in autumn, when they appear decked in all the gay colors that adorn the 

 windows of a print shop; or arrayed rather in the brilliant robes of a bridal ceremony, 

 than in the sombre habiliments proper to announce the speedy approach of winter as the 

 grave of the year. 



- § 6. Stockbridge limestone. 



Origin of its name. Differences in b(ds. Colorin/f mattfr of this limestone when clouded. Presence of stilphuret 

 ofironandsilex. Disintegration. Relative posit iun. Its minerals. Range and extent. Doctrine of meta- 

 morphi-mn. 



This rock is widely and extensively known under the name of Stockbridge marble. 

 Most of the white and clouded limestones in market pass under this general name, though 

 they may have been obtained elsewhere. It is proper to remark that the Philadelphia 

 marble consists of the same material, and is obtained from the same range of rock pro- 

 longed into Pennsylvania. For a general name, I prefer that of Stockbridge limestone, 



