240 Gases ^ Acids, Salts, 6fC. 



ly dry in its combination with the charred vegetable coat. 

 In this state it was diffused throughout the whole piece of 

 ground, which presented the charred appearance, to the 

 depth of twelve or fifteen inches ; and in some places three 

 or four feet. But it was every where the strongest at the 

 surface. 



We received unquestionable assurances that in the time 

 of a wet spring season, the Erithronium dens-canis (adder 

 tongue) and some other plants flowered on this hillock much 

 earlier than in the adjoming grounds, and grew more luxuri- 

 antly ; but that most vegetables withered away, and appear- 

 ed as if scorched, as soon as the profusion of spring rams 

 began to decline. Trees have grown here, however ; for 

 several stumps, from one to three feet in diameter, still stand 

 upon the hill. The largest now standing is a primus virgin- 

 tana, (cabinet cherry.) A few feebly growing vegetables are 

 still alive — among which are the ruhus xnllosus, rumex ace- 

 toselJa, phleum pratense, one species oi polytichum, and one 

 of aspidium. Also one species of conferva floating on the 

 surface of the dilute acid. 



I do not intend to be understood, that these plants are 

 particularly adapted to such a situation, or that sulphuric 

 acid can be borne by them better than by any other plants. 

 It is probable the acid favors their growth when it is very di- 

 lute, and first injures, and then kills and chars them, as it 

 becomes stronger by solar evaporation. 



Besides the sulphuric acid, the water holds in solution va- 

 riable proportions of sulphate of iron, and a small proportion 

 of sulphate of alumine. I undertook to make an analysis 

 with a view to ascertain the proportions of acid and salts to 

 an assumed measure of water. But I detected such varia- 

 ble proportions of each, that no satisfactory result could be 

 obtained. 



The strength of the acid combined with the vegetable 

 matter, and several other circumstances enumerated, make 

 this locality very interesting. But there is another, about 

 one hundred rods west of Byron hotel, being two miles eas* 

 of this, which, in one point of view, is still more remarkable. 

 It is a spring which issues from the earth in quantities suffi- 

 cient for turning a light grist mill. Such an immense sul- 

 phuric acid laboratory is here conducted by nature, that all 

 the water which supplies this perennial stream is sufficiently 

 acid to give the common test with violets and to coagulate 



