220 
[AsSEMBLy 
also with great heighth, both of the general surface, and especially of 
numerous peaks, alters, to a very great extent, its agricultural character. 
By this combination, the mean temperature of the most elevated por- 
tions of the county is reduced so low, that the cultivation of some of 
the most useful vegetables is prevented, or they are crops so uncertain, 
on account of late springs and early frosts, that little inducement is held 
out of trying them even as a matter of experiment. There are, how- 
ever, some bright and favored places where most of the essential vegeta- 
ble productions are raised, and even grow luxuriantly, as along the shores 
of Lake Champlain, and the valleys of the upper Hudson. That a cor- 
rect idea of the surfac^^ of this county may be conveyed to the reader, 
I have given several views illustrative of its scenery. From these may 
be gathered a more correct notion of its uneven and mountainous cha- 
racter, than from any description, however minute, especially the one 
exhibiting a group or view of the Adirondack mountains, on the ex- 
treme western border of the county. It may be proper to remark here, 
that these views were not introduced for the purpose of embellishment, 
or the exhibition of beautiful landscapes, but solely to convey to the 
reader what has just been expressed, a correct view of its surface, or of 
its general outline. 
There are three distinct geological formations in Essex county. — 
1st. "The primary, embracing granite and gneiss; 2d. the transition, and 
3d. a tertiary formation, of the most recent period, belonging to the new- 
er pliocinej of Lyell. I shall speak of them in the order they are named. 
1st. Primary. — Two rocks only, of this class, require a particular 
consideration, viz. granite and gneiss; but as the latter presents nothing 
peculiar in its composition or relations, I shall merely speak of its ex- 
tent, and mark, generally, its boundaries. The rock I term granite, 
demands something more than a passing notice. Correctly speaking, it 
is only a variety of granite, having essentially only two minerals in 
its composition, viz. Labradorite or Labrador feldspar and Hypersthene. 
That the character of the rock may be kept in mind, I shall denominate 
it Hypersthene rock, instead of granite, though it is not certain that it 
is identical with the Hypersthene rock of McCulloch, still no error will 
be conveyed when it is stated, that the feldspar of the rock is the La- 
bradorite instead of the common feldspar. Hypersthene is as truly one 
of its constituents as mica or quartz in the common granite, though not 
so generally diffused, yet so much so, that in very few specimens of the 
size of a goose egg it may not be detected. Having a composition, 
therefore, different from the common granite, it is proper it should re- 
