The Vallies of Berkshire. 



87 



as evidence of irreclaimable sterility. But when he sees the luxuri- 

 ant vegetation of every cultivated spot, and the populousness and ele- 

 gance of Salem and many of the neighboring villages, the contrast 

 increases his pleasure. 



Having thus noticed all the important hills and mountains in the 

 State, with reference to views from their summits, I proceed briefly 

 to sketch the picturesque scenery of particular districts. For we 

 have not seen all that is interesting in the scenery of a country when 

 we have only looked over it from its elevated points. The ever vary- 

 ing prospects which are produced by those elevations, to one wind- 

 ing through the vallies among them, are often of the most romantic 

 character. 



The Vallies of Berkshire. 



In exemplification of this position, let us suppose an observer to 

 pass from Williamstown southerly through New Ashford, Lanes- 

 borough, Lenox, Lee, Stockbridge, Great Barrington, and Sheffield. 

 Till beyond New Ashford, he will be following one of the branches 

 of Hoosic river up the valley of Williamstown. On his right rises 

 the broad slope of the Taconnic range of mountains ; while on his 

 left, and near at hand, Saddle Mountain shoots up in imposing grand- 

 eur ; and more distant, through a lateral valley, a part of the Hoosic 

 range is visible. If it be spring, these mountain sides exhibit numer- 

 ous species of trees and shrubs emulating one another in putting on 

 their party-coloured foliage ; while here and there an Aronia, or a 

 Cornus, is entirely clothed with white blossoms before the appearance 

 of its leaves. If it be summer, these vast slopes are covered from 

 base to summit with a vegetable dress, embracing every hue of green 

 from the dark hemlock and pine, to the almost silvery whiteness of 

 the white oak and poplar. If it be autumn, that same foliage, now 

 assuming almost every colour of the spectrum, and of hues almost 

 as bright, presents one of the most splendid objects in nature. 



As the traveler approaches New Ashford, the hills crowd closer 

 and closer upon his path, which winds among them in conformity 

 with the sinuosities of the river ; and a succession of romantic and 

 Alpine beauties is constantly opening before him. 



Having reached the north part of Lanesborough, he begins to de- 

 scend into the Valley of the Housatonic, which gradually widens 

 before him, and ere he reaches Sheffield, presents to his view a 

 number of most delightful villages, generally in the vicinity of fertile 



