USA > Massachusetts > Berkshire County > History of the county of Berkshire, Massachusetts, in two parts > Part 6
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35
ferruginea. Beech. May. Woods, hills, and plains CASTANEA. 20. 13. americana. Chesnut. do. Hills and plains CORYLUS. 50. 13.
americana. Hazle-nut. April Base of hills rostrata. Braked do. do. do
PLATANUS. 20. 13. occidentalis. Buttonwood. Aug. Along streams
COMPTONIA. 20. 2. asplenifolia. Sweet fern. May. Hills and plains QUERCUS. 20. 13.
discolor. Black oak. do. do.
alba. White do. do. do.
tinctoria. Quercitron do. do. do.
coccinea. Red oak. do. do.
rubra. do.
do. do.
montanu. Chesnut do. do. do.
ilicifolta. Shrub do. do. Taconic Mt.
81
VEGETABLES.
ULMUS. 5. 2. americana. Common elm. April. Lowlands & pla _ fulva. Slippery do. do. do.
CONIFERÆE.
PINUS. 20. 16.
strobus. White pine. May. Plains and low land rigida. Pitch do. do. do.
canadensis. Hemlock. do. do. and hills
balsamea. Balsam fir. do. Mountains
alba. Single spruce. June. do. and hills
nigra Black do. do. do. do.
fraveri. Fraser's pine. do. Saddle Mt .; beautiful pendula. Hackmatack. do. Marshes resinosa. Yellow pine. do. Plains
JUNIPERUS. 21. 16. prostrata. Am. savin. May. Sandy hills virginiana. White cedar. do. do.
TAXUS. 21. 16. canadensis. Dwarf yew. May. Woods; Wmsn
FILICES-(Ferns.)
POLYPODIUM. 22. 1. vulgare. Polypod. June. Low land ; wet
hexagonopterum. Woods do. July. Wet woods connectile. do. calcarcum. do.
ONOCLEA. 22. 1. sensibilis. Sensitive fern. Aug. Low grounds nodulosa. July. do.
PTERIS. 22. 1. aqualina. Brake. July. Fields and woods; dry
ASPIDIUM. 22. 1.
acrostichoides. Brake. June. Light soil ; woods novœboracense. do. do.
marginale. July. Wet wocds
do. do.
intermedium. spinulosum. dilatatum. do. Hills
do. Wet, marshy
filix-mas. Male-fern. do. do.
bulbiferum.
do. Woods
angustum. do. do.
32
HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE.
LYGODIUM. 22. 1.
palm.itum. Climbing fern. June. Becket -
ASPLENIUM. 22. 1.
rhizophyllum. Rooting fern. do. Rocks angustifo. um. Spleen-wort. do. Fences; dry
ebeneum. Jane. Rocks
melanocaulon. do. do.
ruta-muraria d :. do
thelipteroides. do. Pastures
ADIANTUM. 22. 1. pedatum. Maiden-hair. July. Woods
DICKSONIA. 22. 1.
pilosiuscula. Hairy fern. June. Fields and woods OSMUNDA. 22. 1.
cinnamomea. Cinnamon brake. May. Wet patur interrupta. do. do.
regulis. Regal fern. Aug. Wet; marshy BOTRYCHI'M. 22. 1.
obliquum. Grape do. June. Woods virginicum. do. du. gracile. July. do.
LYCOPODIUM. 22. 1.
complanutum. Ground pine. Aug. Light soil; woods clavatum. Club do. do. do. hills
dendroideum. Free do. do.
do.
rupestre. Festoon do. do. Taconic Mt.
EQUISETUM. 22. 1.
arrense. Horse-tail. April. Low grounds
sylvaticum. do. do. Light soil ; meadows uliginosum. Branched do. May. Alluvial hollows scirpoidea. do. do. ba.ks
hyemalc. Scouring rush. June. Woods; hedges
MUSCI-(Musses.)
SPHAGNUM. 22. 2.
gracile. Marsh moss. Sphagnous swamps
rocuroum. do. do. latifolium. do. do.
GYMNOSTOMUM. 22. 2. prorepens. On trees. pyriforme. Low, clayey grounds
SB
VEGETABLES.
PTERIGONIUM. 22. 2. intricatum. On trees.
GRIMMIA. 22. 2. microda. Minute moss. Pastures and meadows DICRANUM. 21. 2.
orthocarpon. Woods.
glaucum.
do.
cerviculatum.
do. clayey.
scoparium.
do. and on dead trees.
heteromallum. Oct. Hoosic Mountain. purpureum. Clayey.
WEISSIA. 22. 2. viridula. Small moss.
TRICHOSTOMICM. 22. 1. pallidum. Yellow moss. Woods.
POLYTRICHUM. 22. 1.
perigoniale. Hair moss. Fields ; cold soil.
undulatwn.
do.
Woods.
brachyphyllum. do. juniperinum. Saddle Mountain ; hills.
HEDWIDGIA. 22. 2. filiformis. Rocks.
PTERIGNANDRUM. 22. 2. trichomitrion. Trees.
ORTHOTRICHUM. 22. 2.
anomalum. Trees.
NECKERA. pennata. Trees. viticulare. About rocks.
CLIMACIUM. americanum. True moss. Low soil.
BERTRAMIA. crispa. Woods, on rocks. longiseta. Open woods.
LESKEA. acuminata. Hoosic Mountain.
MNIUM.
cuspidatum. Woods and fields.
cæspitium.
do.
HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE.
roseum. Woods.
BRYUM.
pyriforme. Woods. argenteum. Clay woods. nutans. Woods. conoideum. do.
DIPLOCOMIUM. longisetum. Fields.
HYPNUM. flexilis. Marshes.
serratifolium. Woods. .
crista-castrensis. Woods ; logs. plumosum. do.
minutilum. Rocks.
cupressiforme. Rotten logs.
rutabulum. Rocks along brooks. recurvens. Woods.
imponens. Logs. delicatulum. do. triynetrum. Woods.
denticulatum. do.
serpens. Creeping moss. Woods.
denticulatum.
do.
tamariscum. Trees. sylvaticum. Woods.
acuminatum.
do.
salebrosum.
do.
torreyana.
do.
chrysostomum. Rocks.
FUN ARIA.
fla icans. Woods.
hygrometrica. Fields.
FONTINALIS.
antepyratica. Wood in water.
LESKEA.
adnata. Woods.
HEPATICE.
JUNGERMANIA. 22. 3.
bidentata. False moss. Woods.
-
VEGETABLES. 85
tementosa. Decayed trees. and many more species.
MARCHANTIA. 22. 3.
polymorpha. Brook liverwort. Wet places.
cornica. hemispherica.
Stone Hill.
Great Barrington.
RICCIA. 22. 3. fluitans. Forked stems. Standing waters. natans. Floating liverwort. do.
ALGÆE-(Sea-weeds and Lichens.)
CONSERVA. 22. 4. Frog-spittle. Several species.
GYROPHORA. 22. 5.
vellea. Leather lichen. Rocks.
papulosa.
do.
muhlenbergia.
do.
ENDOCARPON. 22. 5. miniatum. Rock lichen. Rocks of limestone,
PARMELIA. Many species ; and also of
PELTIDEA,
USNEA, and
BEMYCES.
FUNGI-(Funguses.)
AGARICUS. 22. 6. coccineus.
papyraceus. campestris, and many others.
BOLETUS. 22. 6. igniarius. Touchwood. Trees. versicolor. Wood.
communis.
lutans.
MORELLUS. 22. 6. impudicus. Fetid fungus. Ground beside bushes.
HYDNUM. 22. 6.
LYCOPERDON. 22. 6. boviston. Puff-ball. pyriforme. Pear-like do.
8
1
56
HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE.
SPHERIA. 22. 6. Several species.
UREDO. 22. 6.
flava. Yellow puff. On elder.
XYLOSTROMA. 22. 6.
gigantum. Punk-paper or leather. In decaying wood. SCLEROTIUM. 22. 6.
clavis. Ergot or spur-rye. On rye-heads.
The great beauty and variegated colours of the moun- tain scenery of New England in autumn, have often been remarked. In Berkshire County this is seen in all its perfection. The great variety of forest trees and shrubs present almost as many different colours, when the foliage begins to decay. Instead of the dull brown or russet hue of the country, so commonly spoken of by European writers, in their own countries, our forests present an endless variety of colours and shades and hues. This is to be attributed to the vastly greater va- riety aud species of our trees and shrubs. It was re- marked by Mirbel of France, that the species of the oak alone, in America, were more numerous than all the species of trees in Europe. The general reason of the difference of the colour of the foliage in summer and autumn, seems to be well understood. In the former season, the leaves contain a greater quantity of mucila- ginous and saccharine matter, and the alkali in them gives the beautiful green to their colouring matter ; in the latter season, the acid principle predominates, and uniting with he colouring matter, produces the red co- lour, modified by the peculiar properties of the plant, and yielding to the eye the ever-changing variety of hue. This grand display of beauty and variety of autumnal foliage, must ever be attended with the affecting reflec- tion that it is the certain precursor, like the hectic glow on the cheek of beauty, of immediate dissolution.
-
PRODUCTS OF CULTIVATION .- The plants cultivated on the farms are Wheat, Rye, Indian Corn, Oats, Bar- ley, Flax, Peas, Beans, Potatoes, Buckwheat, Pump- kins, Hops, for the Brewery in Pittsfield ; Peppermint, in Lanesborough, Pittsfield and Lenox, for the distilla-
1
PRODUCTS OF CULTIVATION.
tion of Essence of Peppermint ; Hemp, in a few in- stances ; Turnips; Mangel Wurtzel; Clover, red and white ; Timothy grass (Phleum pratense ) falsely called Foxtail grass, &c. Flax is cultivated sparingly, and chiefly for domestic manufacture, the low price of cot- ton goods rendering it unprofitable.
Of the grains raised for bread-corn, a much less quan- tity, except of Indian corn, is produced than formerly. The cultivation of wheat and rye has been gradually diminishing for years, and has been considerably redu- ced since the opening of the Western Canal. Of rye, a sufficient quantity is raised for the use of the inhab- itants in the middle and western part of the County, but not enough to supply the eastern and higher part, where the grains are not easily cultivated.
Of wheat, considerable quantities were formerly car- ried to the market towns along the Hudson River, as Hudson, Kinderhook, Albany, and Troy ; but for sev- eral years much more wheat flour has been introduced into the County than has been carried out of it. The Castor Oil plant has been slightly cultivated.
Of Fruits, the chief is the Apple, of which great quan- tities are raised ; and the varieties, well known over the country, are raised in great perfection. Among those cultivated more extensively for the last thirty years, are the Greening, Spitzenberg, Red-streak, Yellow Sweet, Pomroyal, Paremain, Seek-no-further, &c. The Quince is raised with difficulty ; the Peach rarely ; the Pear is more common, but not abundant ; the Plum Fas nearly disappeared, the trees gradually dying fion dis- eased excrescences along the limbs. This disease has affected all the kinds of plum cultivated, and particular- ly the white and blue (large) plum, the Damson, and the red (horse) plum. Although the Peach may be cultivated by great care and attention, and the annual replenishing of the trees, it is palpably evident that the soil is not congenial to its production, like that in many parts of Connecticut, or of the western part of New York, or of the more southern States. The same re- mark may be made respecting the Quince, although it is a more hardy plant. The Apple, Pear, and Phim, may be cultivated with comparative case and little ex- .pense.
HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE. .
In this County, the apple-tree has not suffered fromn the ravages of the canker worm, commonly so called, and whose transformations are now so well understood, as in many other parts of the country. This caterpillar makes its appearance in greater or less number every year; but it has rarely been found necessary to make much effort for its destruction. The tearing down of its webs. or the firing of gunpowder upon them, is the more common method. As the animal is found in au- tumn near the root of the trees, swine are also found. very useful in destroying it.
The Potatoe forms an important article for the food of the people ; for the fattening of beef and pork ; for the nourishment of horses and sheep, and for the do- mestic manufacture of starch. It is cultivated in great quantity and with great ease, being relatively a cheap and safe crop. It is curious to remark the change in articles of food. The parents of some now on the stage who annually raise hundreds of bushels of potatoes, and consider them most important and essential as an arti- cle of food, were accustomed to raise only a few bush- els, and thought them scarcely fit food for the brutes. The quality has indeed much improved, as the quantity has increased.
The planting of Indian corn is commonly between the 10th and 25th of May, and the greater part about the latter day. On some interval, as well as some higher and moist soils, it is a week or ten days later. This vegetable has often been nearly destroyed by a small yellow worm, about an inch long, or a shorter and larger brown worm, consuming the seed before it veget- ated. and as soon as germination commenced. In 1802 many fields of it were thus destroyed. In 1826 the far- mers also suffered much from these insects and the drought. Great crons of Indian corn are produced in warm summers with great ease. Many fields in the County, almost annually, are estimated to yield from 90 to 100 bushels the acre ; in a few instances, more. The sowing of spring wheat and rye, is done as early as the season will admit. The winter wheat and rye is sown much earlier than formerly especially on the lighter soils ; even as early as August, or the fore part,
$9
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
of September, from the advantage to the crops by an earlier germination.
The productions of Horticulture are chiefly of the most common and useful kinds. Rare and delicate plants, or 'he more hardy of the delicate plants, are reared in a few gardens. The yards of the more opu- lent and tasteful are ornamented with the mock orange or false svringa, (Philadelphus) the Lilac (Syringa vul- garis and alba), the Pine, Spruce, Fir, Larch, Moun- tain Ash, Weeping Willow, Yellow Willow. The Lombardy Poplar has been cultivated to considerable extent as shade trees, but is now giving place to the in- digenous and far more beautiful Maple and Elm. The Locust (Robinia pseudo-acacia) is often seen, introdu- ced from the south, a short-lived tree, and much less firm and durable than in its indigenous soils. The ele- gant locust (Robinia hispida) is much more rarely cul- tivated. ` The Horse Chesnut is also introduced, and the Snow-ball. Some varieties of the Grape have been cultivated in a few gardens in the middle and southern towns. The experiment has shown the difficulty, and has also shown that it may be overcome. The Grape will not be cultivated to any considerable extent.
Berkshire is an Agricultural County. Besides the production of the grains, &c. already mentioned, the at- tention of farmers is directed to the raising of horses. and mules to some extent, for the southern market ; to the fattening of beef and pork ; to the production of but -- ter and cheese, of which, and especially of the latter, great quantities are carried to the New York market ; and latterly, to the raising of sheep, to supply the de- mands of the woollen factories.
The Berkshire Agricultural Society, the oldest in our country, was incorporated in 1811; and designed to promote friendship and good feelings among the citi- zens, as well as improvement and enterprize in the cul- tivation of the soil. The Hon. Elkanah Watson, men a resident in the County, was particularly active and in- fluential in its formation. It holds its annual meeting, cattle show and fair, in the beginning of October annu- ally, at Pittsfield, and has exerted a powerful and bene- ficial influence upon the agricultural interests of the County. It has called the attention of farmers more 8*
HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE.
- particularly to the better management of their farms ; to the greater production and more beneficial employ- ment of manures; to the rotation of crops, and the a- daptation of some soils to particular kinds of vegeta- bles ; to the improvement of all kinds of live-stock, es- pecially of working cattle, cows, horses, and sheep ; to the perfecting of butter, cheese, &c .; to the best mode of managing sheep, and particularly those imported from Europe, and the like. By its annual premiums, it excites emulation, and promotes a spirit of enterprize and activity among agriculturalists. By the same means, it awakens kindred feelings among the females, and im- proves various and important articles of household man- ufacture.
A similar Society, located at Stockbridge, and rather more limited in its operations, was formed in 1824, and extended to other towns in 1826. It is aiding in the advancement of the agricultural interests, and contribu- ting to swell the amount of effort in this great and fund- amental business of life and civilization. It is much to be desired that similar societies should be formed in every town in the County,
As the farmers are generally the owners of the soil, even tenants being relatively uncommon, they form a large body of independent yeomanry, deeply interested in the improvement of their farms and the industrious habits of the citizens-one of the grand supports of our free and happy government.
The butter and cheese annually made in the middle and north parts of the County, is of great amount. Dairies of from fifteen to thirty cows are common- sometimes of fifty, and occasionally of seventy.
Flocks of sheep, from three to five hundred, are not very frequent ; but we occasionally find one of eight hundred or a thousand. The number of sheep is un- known; but there were said to be about 8000 in the town of Lanesborough alone, in 1826.
Considerable pork is yearly fattened ; and beef cat- tle are to some extent driven to the east and west to market.
Besides the barn manure, ashes and Plaister of Paris are employed. The latter has been used to considera- ble extent Many tons are annually brought into the
MANUFACTURES.
ounty at the present time. On Indian Corn, and par- ticularly Clover, it is found to exert a very beneficial influence. Ashes might be advantageously employed to a much greater extent. Their beneficial use in gar- dens, in preventing ravages of worms and insects, has been well proved. The formation of composts, for ma- nure, has been tried to considerable extent. In several towns marl is found, which might be made highly use- ful. The removal of the light vegetable mould from marshes might be greatly increased, and upon the light, sandy soils, prove highly advantageous. The theory of the operation of Plaister is not yet fully settled. That of Sir H. Davy is probable, that it operates as the food of plants ; which, however, take up only a small quantity. Where a considerable quantity, like 6 to 10 bushels to the acre, has in two or three years been used, it must cease to be of any apparent use ; because the soil has already more than the plants can take up for their nourishment. Lime has been only sparingly used as a manure in the County; and salt still less. The farmer will find a great amount of valuable facts in the oration of Col. McKay, before the Agricultural Society in 1825, and published by the Society.
The timber for common fences is the chesnut, black ash, hemlock, spruce, &c. The common kind of fence for farms is the Virginia or zigzag, post and rail, and post and board. More stone wall is laid than formerly, and merits attention from the farmer, where stone is readily procured. A very durable fence is the post and rail on a wall two feet high; as it is less heaved by frost, and as the posts, supported by the stone, do not decay like those in the ground. About houses are va- rious kinds of more elegant fence.
According to the census of 1820, 7568 of the popula- tion of Berkshire were engaged in agriculture, or nearly me-fourth of the whole.
MANUFACTURES .- Berkshire seems designed to be- ome a great manufacturing district. The facilities for the application of water power in Adams, Pittsfield, Dalton, Lee, Otis, Stockbridge, and Great Barrington, are very great. In most of the towns, there are several sites upon which manufacturing establishments may be
92
HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE
erected, especially by conducting the water a moderate distance in a canal. The attention of capitalists and enterprizing men has been gradually directed to this subject, and at this time there is an increasing impres- sion of the importance of manufactures to the prosperi- ty of the County. Besides domestic manufactures, and the common arts and trades which are so far pursued as the wants of the citizens require, and which give em- ployment and support to the shoemaker, blacksmith, tailor, hatter, cabinet-maker, house carpenter and join- er, tanner and currier, saddle and harness maker, coop- er, clothier, brickmaker, mason, printer, stone-cutter, potter, goldsmith, &c., and the manufacture to some extent of axes, scythes, rakes, axe-helves, scythe- snaths, wooden boxes and dishes, ploughs, hoes, wag- gons, carts, and the like, there are important and ex- tensive manufacturing establishments of cotton, in Ad- ams, Pittsfield, and Stockbridge ; of woollens, such as satinetts, in Adams and Stockbridge; of broadcloths, satinetts, and kerseymeres, in Pittsfield; of paper, in Dalton and Lee ; of gunpowder and chair timber, in Lee; of chaises, hacks, and coaches, and of muskets, in Pittsfield. There is also a considerable manufacture of mill-stones in Pittsfield. Distilleries of cider brandy are found in most towns, to the general injury of the inhabitants ; and of whiskey and beer, in Pittsfield ; and also of essence of peppermint, to a great amount, Lin- seed oil is manufactured in Adams and Stockbridge.
A cotton factory is erected in Williamstown ; and a woollen factory, designed to be raised to a very exten- sive establishment, has begun its operations at Pontoo- suck, in Pittsfield. Tin is manufactured into tin-ware, in large quantities in Pittsfield and Lenox. A furnace for castings of iron, in pots, kettles, stoves, aqueduct pipes, &c. &c. is established in Lenox ; one or two ex- ist in Lee ; a small one in Adams, and another in Tyr- ingham ; and forges for the manufacture of bar-iron from pigs, in Sheffield, Lee, New Marlborough, &c. Manufactories of machinery are established in Adams and Pittsfield.
By the census of 1820, 2019 of the population of the County were engaged in manufactures. The number is now much greater ; perhaps double.
93
ROADS.
The formation of charcoal for the supply of the fur- naces, forges, blacksmiths, and other business, gives support to many inhabitants. The immense quantity of wood upon the hills will make this an easy and im- portant business for many years to come. Indeed, since the introduction of stoves for the economy of fuel, it is thought by many judicious men, that wood is, in many towns, produced in greater proportion than it is annu- ally consumed. The economy of fuel has, from the relative cheapness of wood, attracted but little atten- tion. Very obvious and important improvements in the use of fuel, may easily be made; and as more land is reduced to' cultivation, will be brought into practice. Though much has been said and written to show the economy of burning dried and housed wood, there is no doubt, that except for stoves and in summer, the economy depends wholly on the judgment and care of the individual. It is often the case that a cord of green wood is made to yield sufficient heat for a quarter long- er time than a cord of dry, owing to the improvident use of the"dry. Indeed, it does not admit of doubt, that the language of many Farmers and Mechanics is true, that in winter a less number of cords of green wood an- swers their purpose, than of the dried and seasoned, even when the wood is perfectly sound. The judicious man and housewife will easily determine, by a little ob- servation, which is the cheaper fuel for their families and business.
Pit-coal, or Liverpool coal, is introduced into the County in only a few instances, and for some particular manufactures. The vicinity of the Hudson, and the ease of transportation, will render the introduction of the Lehigh anthracite, or other coal, in the market, an easy matter, whenever it shall become cheaper fuel than wood. It is already used in a few manufacturing establishments.
ROADS, &c .- The roads were originally laid, as they must be in new countries, over the higher grounds, in order to avoid the mud and marshes of the lower. In mary cases they are exceedingly tortuous, following the o'd Indian paths, or those made by the cows of the first settlers. Some of them have been straighten-
94
HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE.
ed and shortened, or turned over lower ground to av void the hills. Much improvement, however, remains to be made. The sooner it is done, the better it will be for the inhabitants, as it will prevent the erection of dwellings which will eventually be somewhat remote from the roads. There can be no doubt, that the next fifty years will witness great changes in the County roads. The County road, south and north, from Shef- field, through Great Barrington, Stockbridge, Lenox, Pittsfield, Lanesborough, and New Ashford, to Will- iamstown, is one of great importance. It passes through the most thickly settled and pleasant part of the County. It was much used by emigrants from Connecticut to Vermont, when the latter State was settled ; and it is now used by the inhabitants more than any other road which runs in this direction. In consequence of the hills in the middle and north parts of the County, how- ever, travellers from Connecticut and the south-eastern section of New York, have been accustomed for sever- al years to leave this road in Great Barrington, passing through West Stockbridge into the State of New York, and by the way of Albany to the north-east parts of New York and to Vermont.
These hills may to a great extent be avoided, and in . some instances entirely escaped, by following the val- lies round them. Travellers have long since learned that the distance over hills is equal to that round them in most cases. An almost level road, or one on which the ascents are so long as to be nearly imperceptible, may be easily wrought through the whole extent of the County ; and must be wrought before the travel from the south will return to it. Considerable improvements have indeed recently been made on this route ; but ma- ny remain to be made hereafter. It has long been a fixed opinion of those acquainted with the ground, that the road may be carried round the south-east point of Monument mountain at a far less elevation than is now done. Between Stockbridge and Lenox, and between Lenox and Pittsfield, the road may be straightened in several places, and at the same time rendered more level. Above Pittsfield some hills would be avoided by turning the road westerly along the margin of Pon- tooque river, and thones along the margin of Lanesho-
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.