1852. 
THE CULTIVATOR 
303 
perceived. It is found in a massive, compact state, and 
also of a fibrous structure, with the external surfaces 
usually exhibiting an irregularly striated aspect. It is of 
a light yellowish green color, passing by imperceptible 
shades, through all the various gradations of tint, into 
that of a deep green; these tints are seldom uniform in 
their appearance, being disposed in stripes, veins, or clou¬ 
ded all over with variously shaped spots. This mineral, 
whenever found sufficiently compact as to render it sus¬ 
ceptible of a fine polish, is much sought after by lapida¬ 
ries, for the various practical applications that can be 
made of it in their profession. When associated with 
carbonate of lime, it constitutes the verd-antique mar¬ 
ble, so justly appreciated when seen manufactured into 
table-tops, mantle-pieces, and other articles of ornament , 
for which it can rarely be excelled in beauty. A vein of 
this marble is found in the bed of the stream at the vil¬ 
lage, but as to its dimensions, we had no opportunity to 
determine. It had the appearance of being beautifully 
mottled with black, green, and white, but to judge of its 
merits, it should be in a polished state. 
Hypersthene. —The color of this mineral is a deep green, 
passing into a greyish black; it occurs in lamellated con¬ 
cretions in the greatest profusion, so as to become one of 
the principal constituents of the entire mountain range; 
in fact to such a degree does it exist that its name has 
been appropriated to distinguish the variety of rock, that 
embraces all the iron ore beds of this region of country. 
It is intimately associated with labradorite, which mine¬ 
ral appears to lie through it in crystalline masses, when¬ 
ever it becomes visable to the sight. It has not to my 
knowledge been applied to any practical uses. 
Garnet.^ —This we observed, scattered about profusely 
in several localities visited by us, both crystalline, and in 
small masses,, embedded in other minerals associa ted with 
those of the ere beds. They were of a deep red color, 
but we could discover none of the precious variety, al¬ 
though we had reason to' believe that they eveutually 
would be found. They are, when in a perfect condition, 
considered of great value to the jeweller, as gems for or¬ 
namental decorations. 
Feldspar .—This mineral is quite common in this vi¬ 
cinity, consisting of several distinct varieties; they gra¬ 
dually pass into each other, with colors ranging from 
white, red, brown, green, to blackish. Some of these 
varieties are sufficiently compact to sustain a very fine 
polish, and are then esteemed of value to the lapidary 
for ornamental purposes. 
Labradorite. —This beautiful mineral is not uncommon 
in this region of country, and is justly in great demand 
by the lapidary, as it forms one of the most interesting 
gems that can be obtained, for his use. It receives a fine 
polish, and when exposed to the rays of light exhibits in 
bright opalescent reflections, the colors of green, blue and 
bronze yellow. It is found in small masses and laminae 
associated with the feldspar, and several other mineral sub¬ 
stances. A specimen of this substance, from the vicinity 
of St. Petersburgh, once sold to the Duke of Devonshire 
for the sum of one thousand rubles. It was valued so 
highly by Catherine the second, that snuff boxes of seve¬ 
ral* small stones, sold for fifteen hundred rubles. 
Kaolin . —A most beautiful specimen of porcelain earth 
| was shown me, at this place, which had every appearance 
of being perfectly pure, but in what abundance it could 
be obtained at the locality from whence it was taken, we 
were not informed. 
Phosphate of Lime. —This highly interesting substance 
is rapidly coming into public use as a manure, both in 
this country and in Europe, for which purpose it has been 
proved superior to anything yet made use of A num¬ 
ber of specimens, of a very fine quality, were picked up 
among the fragments of rocks in these vallies, and there 
are many evidences of its existence in this vicinity, other 
than those extensive beds and veins at Crown Point, near 
the shores of the lake. 
Iron Pyrites.— -This occurs in small cubic crystals in 
many of the associate minerals of the iron ore beds, and 
in one instance, we saw it disseminated in such quanti¬ 
ties in the ore, as to cause it speedily to disintegrate when 
but for a short time exposed to the action of atmospheric 
influences; this would at once suggest the proper method 
for preparing this ore for the smelting furnace, should it 
ever become necessary to make use of it for that pur¬ 
pose. This bed is situated at the base of a gently eleva¬ 
ted hill, but a few rods from the public street of the 
village. 
Graphite, (Black lead.) —We did not meet with this 
mineral in place, but it was not unfrequently found 
in loose pieces, often of some considerable size, strewed 
promiscuously over the surface of the ground, usually 
associated with carbonate of lime. In some instances it 
was distinctly granular in its structure; at others it ap¬ 
peared in lamellated scales, from the smallest particles up 
to more than an inch in diameter. The specimens found 
in the vicinity of the lower w T orks, were of the latter va¬ 
riety, and exhibited the laminae in beautiful perfection. 
Among the hills, and along the shores of Lake Cham¬ 
plain, whenever found, it is most generally in veins of 
carbonate of lime, and also in masses of the phosphate 
of that mineral. We saw no veins during our brief ex¬ 
aminations at this place, but have no doubt that they do 
exist in many places among the hills, and when properly 
explored, will develop themselves to the scrutizining eye 
of the investigator. J. E. 
The Long Hoe Handles. 
Man was formed to walk erect; and if compelled to 
walk or to labor very much stooping, he soon tires. 
We usually, here at the north, purchase our hoes with 
the handles attached—all complete; and surely they aro 
very neat—made of cast-steel, and bright as silver, with 
nicely turned handles of about four and a half feet in 
length—handles too short by half a foot. 
Holding, or using them, in the posture to labor with 
ease, the hoe will not reach the ground by about six in¬ 
ches. These answer well for side-hill work. I have been 
searching for two years, and the longest I could find in 
New-Haven or Hartford, was four feet eight inches. 
In the south, hoes are usually formed with sockets or 
eyes for the handles—and handles made on the plantar 
tions, from five to six feet in length. 
I do not remember ever seeing a Yankee hoe in New- 
Orleans till last winter, and the handles of which were 
only about four feet in length. 
