VERMONT. 



i79 



die of August. Apples are ripe by the 8th of August. Oats are reaped by the 20th of 

 August, and maize is ripe on the first of October. Droughts are uncommon ; the crops more 

 frequently suffer from too much moisture. During April and May, the weather is mild with 

 frequent showers. Through the summer it is fair and serene. The wind at this season is 

 mostly from the southwest, being regulated by the direction of the mountains, and the shores 

 of lake Champlain. The heat of the day is excessive, but the niglits are ever cool and agree- 

 able. Thunder-showers usually come from the west, and southwest, and are common in May. 

 June, July, and August, but not at otlier times. In spring and autumn, the atmosphere is 

 often smoky and obscure. Throughout September, and the most of October, the finest 

 weather prevails, with gentle winds, and a clear sky. Frosts appear, as before stated, in Sep- 

 tember ; November is cold and rainy, with some snow, and high winds. 



7. Soil. The soil is generally rich and loamy. On the borders of the rivers are fine 

 tracts of interval land, which consist of a deep, black, alluvial deposit ; these are sometimes a 

 mile in width, and are very productive in maize, grain, grass, and garden vegetables. The up- 

 lands are in many places scarcel^i inferior to the intervals, and are in general sufficiently free 

 from stones to admit of easy cultivation. The hills and mountains, which are not arable on 

 account of their steepness or the rocks, aflbrd the best of pasturage for sheep and cattle. 

 There is hardly any part of the country better adapted to the rearing of horses, horned cattle, 

 and sheep, than the mountainous parts of this State. Wheat is raised more abundantly on the 

 western side of the mountains, than on the eastern. The soil and climate of all ports are very 

 favorable to the growth of the apple and other fruits. The greater part of the State is better 

 fitted for grazing, than tillage. 



8. Geology. The rocks E. of lake Champlain belong to the transition order, for the dis- 

 tance of 10 or 15 miles from the shore; along the rivers are many alluvial deposits, but {ha 

 general character of the State is decidedly primary. The ranges of rocks, like the ranges of 

 mountains, extend through the State from North to South. The ranges on the West side of 

 the mountains are much more regular, and better known, than those on the eastern. Beginning 

 at the lake, and proceeding easterly, they are nearly as follows : 1 . Old red sandstone in an 

 interrupted range. 2. Graywacke. 3. Transition or metalliferous hmestone, alternating with 

 transition argillite. 4. Transition or calciferous sandstone. 5. Transition argillitc. 6. Prim- 

 itive argillite. 7. Sparry limestone. 8. Granular limestone. 9. Granular quartz, containing 

 haematitic iron ore and manganese, and lying at the foot of the Green Mountains on the W. side. 

 10. Hornblende rock. 11. Gneiss, with alternating layers of granite. 12. Mica slate, con- 

 stituting the middle ridge of the Green Mountain range, and extending in many places a con- 

 siderable distance down the eastern side. These ranges of rocks reach from Canada to New 

 Jersey. They are frequently interrupted, and the primary rocks are often in alternating layers. 

 Mica slate and gneiss are the most common rocks, for a considerable distance down the 

 eastern side of the mountains. Primitive limestone is found in Londonderry, Weston, and 

 other places, and also in Caledonia county. An extensive range of serpentine occurs in the 

 southern, and another in the northern part of the State ; in connexion with the serpentine aie 

 beds of steatite, talc, and chlorite. Further east are found hornblende rock, gneiss, granite, 

 and argillaceous slate, in uninterrupted ranges. A bed of granite extends through Windham 

 county, passing the Connecticut at Bellows Falls into New Hampshire. Ascutney moun- 

 tain is formed of this stone. Along the Coimecticut is an uninterrupted range of argilla- 

 ceous slate. 



Q. Minerals., Quarries^ &c. Iron is abundant in this State, and lead, zinc, copper, a.nd 

 manganese are found in many places. Sulphate of iron, or copperas ore is very plentiful. 

 The manufacture of this last, deserves particular notice, and an account of it v. ill be found 

 under the head of manufactures. The sulphuret of iron is found in the towns of Slraftbrd, and 

 Shrewsbury, in the eastern and central parts of the State. At the former place, the bed of 

 the mineral lies on a hill, and is half a mile in length, and two or three rods in width ; the 

 depth is unknown. The ore is covered with a stratum of earth about three feet deep ; below 

 this is a stratum of ferruginous petrifactions, two or three feet in depth, exhibiting forms of 

 buds, leaves, limbs, &c. Below this lies the sulphuret of iron. It is very compact ; its colors 

 ^ are brilliant, varying from that of steel to a bright yellow, and it is occasionally diversified by 

 small quantities of green copper ore. It is traversed in many parts by small veins of quartz. 

 The best iron is found at Peru, in the southern part of the State, and has the highest reputa- 

 ' on for its ductility and toughness. It is worked into chains, bolts, &c. but the bed of ore 



