USA > Vermont > History of Vermont, natural, civil, and statistical, in three parts, with a new map of the state, and 200 engravings > Part 38
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Whortleberries. of the various kinds, are produced in great plenty in different parts of the state, particularly on the pine plains in the neighborhood of lake Cham- plain. In plentiful years, the quantities of these berries offered for sale in our vil- lages along the western part of the state are very considerable. In 1841, which was remarkably productive in these ber- ries, the quantity brought into the village of Burlington between the 25th of June and the Ist of September, could not have fallen much, if any, short of 200 bushels.
We have three kinds of raspberries, the red, black and white, all of which grow wild. The two latter are much im- proved by cultivation, and are consider- ably cultivated in gardens. The red raspberry is very abundant on most of our hills and mountains. Gooseberries are found growing wild in all parts, but the fruit is generally small. Several choice foreign varieties have been intro- dueed into our gardens, where they are easily cultivated and brought to a high degree of perfection. They are a luxury, which, with very little trouble, every family might enjoy.
Blackberries, of two or three kinds, are common, and they are universally regard- ed as the most wholesome and delicious wild berry found in the state. A variety of this berry is occasionally found the color of which is a delicate yellowish white. It is sometimes cultivated in gar- dens, and, contradictory as the terms may seem, several have been able to assert, without contradiction, that they could enr
221
BOTANY OF VERMONT.
CHAP. 7.
BERRIES .- MEDICINAL PLANTS.
tertain their visitants with a dessert of | vassed, and their proper places assigned white black-berries. them among the articles of our materia medica.
The barberry bush grows well in most parts of the state, but so little use is made of the berry that no effort is made to mul- tiply it. Two kinds of cranberries, the high and the low, are common in many of the swamps, and preserved in sugar they make an agreeable and wholesome sauce. Of strawberries there are several kinds. The wild, or woods strawberry, though a pleasant fruit, is not found in sufficient quantities to be an object of much regard. The common field strawberry is diffused over the whole state, and in its season af- fords considerable quantities of delicious fruit, though it seldom grows to a large size. Several varieties of foreign straw- berries are cultivated in gardens. Some of these grow to a great size, and with proper attention a small plot of ground may be made to yield a very large quan- tity of choice fruit. The fox and frost grapes grow wild in most parts of the state, and several exotic grapes are suc- cessfully cultivated in gardens, and bear well. The large purple grape endures our climate and ripens its fruit without protection, and this is undoubtedly the most profitable for general cultivation. The more choice varieties must either be housed or buried to preserve them through the winter, and many of them require pro- tection and artificial heat, in order to bring their fruit to maturity. In addition to the above, we have the hobbleberry, the mulberry, the cheekerberry, the par- tridge berry, and some others which are eaten, and several kinds, as the sumac, elder, juniper, &c., which are used in medicine or the arts.
Medicinal Plants .- The native vegeta- bles of Vermont already contribute some- what to the MateriaMedica of the country, and when the medicinal properties of our plants become better known, it is proba- ble that the list of those which deserve to be employed in the healing art will be greatly increased. We are of the num- ber of those who look with much more confidence to the vegetable than to the mineral kingdom, for antidotes to the va- rious diseases and ills which flesh is heir to. Not that we would go to the lengths of some of our name, and banish all miner- al substances from our pharmacopcia, but, being fully persuaded that for removing a great majority of diseases, the remedies derived from the vegetable kingdom are not only more effectual, but far more safe than those derived from the mineral king- dom, we would gladly see the medicinal properties of our plants more thoroughly investigated, their reputed virtues can-
In the preceding account of our forest trees, we have briefly mentioned the me- dicinal purposes to which the parts of sev- eral of them are applied. We had inten- ded in this place to notice a few of the many herbs and roots which are, or have been, of repute for their medicinal vir- tnes, but we have not room. We would, however, remark that the Ginseng, Panax quinquefolia, was the first medicinal root which attracted much attention in this state, and is the only one which has been to any considerable extent an article of exportation. This root had long been re- garded in China as a panacea, and was supposed to be indigenons only in that conutry and Tartary, till 1720, when it was discovered by the Jesuit Lafitan, in the forests of Canada. Such was the de- mand for the root in China, at that peri- od, that it soon became a considerable ar- ticle of commerce. Upon the settlement of this state the ginseng was found to grow here in great plenty and perfection, and it soon began to be songlit with ca- gerness for exportation. For many years it was purchased at nearly all the retail stores in the state, and was sent to the seaports to be shipped to China. Those who dug the root sold it in its erude state for about 2 shillings or 34 cents per lb., and it was so plentiful in some places that digging it was a profitable business. The root is a mild, pleasant, and wholsome bitter, but it has never ranked very high as a medicine in this country, and its ex- portation and the clearing of the country has rendered it scarce.
Flowering Plants. This state is partic- ularly rich, considering its northern sit- uation and mountainous surface, in beau- tiful flowering plants. Several of these have already been noticed in the observa- tions preliminary to the preceding cata- logue. Among our most singular flower- ing shrubs may be mentioned the Witch Hazel, Ilomomelis Virginica. This shrub puts forth its modest yellow blossoms us- ually in October, after the leaves have been killed by the frost, but the seed is not matured till the following year.
Poisonous Plants, which are natives of Vermont, are not numerons. Enough, however, exist to render caution necessa- ry in gathering herbs, either for food or medicine. A few poisonous plants have also been introduced, and to some extent naturalized. Of these may be mentioned the poison hemlock, which may be seen growing in many places by the road- sides.
222
NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.
L'ART I.
ROCKS.
GRANITE .- GNEISS.
MICA SLATE.
CHAPTER VIII.
GEOLOGY AND MINERALOGY OF VERMONT.
When we commenced our undertaking four years ago, we had little doubt that there would be a Geological Survey of the state, under the patronage of the gov- ernment, in season to enable us to em- brace the results of it in the present work. In consequence of this expectation, we have devoted less attention to the geology of the state than to the other departments of our natural history ; and, a survey not having been undertaken, as we anticipa- ted, we must content ourselves for the present with only a few general remarks on these interesting subjects. Enough is already known to make it certain that our state ranks among the first in the Union in mineral resources, and by private and individual enterprise something hus al- ready been done towards turning these resources to account, as may be seen by reference to our account of Strafford, Bennington, Plymouth, and some other towns in part third. The few remarks which we shall offer will be presented under the heads of Rocks, Metals, and Minerals.
Rocks.
The ranges of rocks in this state, for the most part, extend through the state in lines parallel to the principal range of the Green Mountains. The greater part of the rocks are of primitive formation. The ranges, commencing on the west side of the state, according to Prof. Eaton, are nearly in the following order :- 1. Old Red Sandstone in an in- terrupted range ;-- 2. Graywacke ;- 3. Transition, or Metaliferous Limestone, al- ternating with Transition Argillite ;- 4. Transition, or Calciferous Sandstone ;- 5. Transition Argillite ;-- 6. Primitive Argillite ;--- 7. Sparry Limestone ;-- 8. Granular Limestone ;- 9. Granular Quartz, containing hematitic iron ore and manga- nese, and lying at the foot of the Green Mountains on the west side ;- 10. Hornblende Rock ;- 11. Gneiss, with al- ternating layers of Granite ;- 12. Mica Slate, constituting the middle ridge of the Green Mountains, and extending, in ma- ny places, a considerable distance down the eastern side. Most of these ranges
of rocks extend through the whole length of the state; On the east side of the Mountains the geological features are not so well defined, nor so well known. Al-, though there are here indications of ranges nearly parallel with those on the west side, they are frequently interrupted and jumbled together; the different rocks often being arranged in alternating lay- ers. The principal ranges of rocks in the central part of the state are nearly as exhibited in the following diagram of a vertical section passing from east to west, through Camel's Homp :
1
2
4
-
3-
ubcd e
-
k
1
References.
1. Lake Champlain.
2. Camel's flump.
3. Montpelier.
4. Connecticut River.
g. Quartz, Talcose Siale and Chlorite.
a. Sandstone.
b. Argillaceous slate.
&. Granito.
l. Lime.
d. Limestone.
e. Slates, Graywacke, Argillaccous, &c.
f. Mica Slate.
i: Argillaccous Slato.
c. Gray wacke Sandstone.
w. Argillaceous Slate.
Granite. This rock shows itself very sparingly in the Green Mountain range, and on the west side of the mountains hardly exists at all, except in small rolled masses. On the east side of the moun- tains it occurs in many places in Wind- ham and Windsor counties. In the north- ern part of Orange county, the southeast- ern part of Washington and southwestern part of Caledonia county, it constitutes the principal rock in situ. From this great granite region was obtained the mu- terial for building the State House. (Sec Part III, p. 9.). Orleans county abounds in huge granite boulilers, which make excellent building stone.
Gneiss. This occurs in many places along the summits of the Green Mountain range and in the counties of Windham and Windsor, where it serves a good pur- pose for walls, under-pinnings, &e.
Mica Slutc. This constitutes almost the entire middle range of the Green Mountains from Massachusetts to Cana-
223
GEOLOGY AND MINERALOGY OF VERMONT.
CHAP. 8.
ROCKS, METALS AND MINERALS.
da, and is met with more or less abun- dantly in all the counties on the east side of the mountains. It is of little value as a building stone, excepting for wall fen- ces, but is found in inany places suitable for covering stone bridges, for flagging stone, &c. In Halifax and some other places it is found of a quality suitable for cominon grave stones.
Argillacrous Slate. Several considerable ranges of this slate are found in Vermont extending from sonth to north. It is abundant along Connecticut river, and in Windham county it is extensively quar- ried at Dummerston and other places for roof and writing slate. A range of this slate extends north from White river through Montpelier, which, at Berlin and some other places, affords slate of a very good quality. A dark colored glazed va- riety of this slate extends along the east- ern inargin of lake Champlain, the seams of which are filled with calcareous spar.
Lime. The range of granular lime- stone, which enters the state at Pownal, and extends almost directly north to Can- ada, is the most important in the state. This range affords excellent marble, which is extensively wrought in many towns in the counties of Bennington, Rutland and Addison. Very beautiful marble is also found at Swanton. Throughout all the western parts of the state limestone, for the manufacture of lime of the best qual- ity, is abundant. On the east side of the mountains, the best for the manufac- ture of lime is probably at Plymouth, near the head of Black river. (Se: Part III, p. 140.) Some of this limestone is found to receive a very good polish as it has been wrought to some extent for mar- ble. The other most important localities are at Whitingham and in the southeast- ern part of Caledonia county. The lime on the east side of the mountains is not only more limited in quantity, but is flarker colored, and otherwise inferior to that on the west.
Tulcose Slate. This rock forms an in- terrupted range from Whitinghamn, on Massachusetts line, to Troy on Canada line. In this range are extensive beds of excellent steatite, or soap stone, which is, in many places, wrought into fire places, stoves, aqueducts, &c. The most impor- tant localities are at Grafton, Plymouth, Bridgewater, Bethel, Moretown and Troy. Talcose slate also abounds on the west side of the mountains in the county of Lamoille, and the eastern part of Frank- Jin county.
Serpentine. Nearly in connection with the Talcose range, on the east side of the mountains, this rock shows itself in many
places ; - most extensively at Cavendish near Black river, and at Lowell near the source of Missisco river. At the former place, its connection with the limestone and steatite forms that most beautiful va- riety of marble called Verd Antique. ( Sce Part III, p. 48.) At the latter place is found beautiful precious serpentine, and several varieties of amianthus and asbes- tos.
Metals.
Iron ore, in the form of oxydes, is found in greater or less quantities in almost all parts of the state. The most important beds of this ore which have been opened on the west side of the mountains are at Bennington, Tinmouth, Pittsford, Chit- tenden, Brandon, Monkton and Highgate, and on the east side of the mountains at Troy and Plymouth, for an account of which, see part third, under the respective names, particularly the latter. Sulphuret of iron is also abundant in many places. See Strafford, in part third.
Manganese is abundant in connection with the iron ore at Plymouth, Benning- ton, Chittenden, &c., and has already be- come a considerable article of exportation.
Lead ore has been found in small quan- tities at Thetford, Sunderland, Morris- town, and some few other places. There is some prospect that the vein at Morris- town may prove valuable. It is situated upon the top of a large hill, in the seam in talcose slate, the strata of which are nearly vertical, and extend from north to south. The seam at the surface of the rock, which is bare for some distance, is perhaps lo inches wide, and can be traced north and south several rods. This seam is filled with a substance which seems to be mostly quartz, in which the sulphuret of lead, or galena, is scattered, being in. masses from the size of a pin-head to that of a man's fist. The seamn, which has been opened to the depth of several feet. is found to increase in width downward, and to become richer in ore, but whether it will repay the expense of working is at present problematical.
Copper ore is found sparingly at several places. At Strafford, where it has been found most plentifully, it has been smelt- ed for the copper. (See Part III, p. 166.)
Sitrer is said to exist in a small propor- tion in the lead ore, but has been found here in no other connection.
Gold has been found in the lower part of Windham county, but in no other part of the state. In 1826 a lump of native gold was found in Newfane weighing 8 ounces, and in Somerset it has been found in small particles in connection with tal- cose slate.
224
NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.
PART 1'
LOCATION OF MINERALS.
Minerals.
We shall close this short chapter by indicating some of the principal localities of interesting minerals, many of which will be still further noticed in part third, under the names of the towns in which they are situated.
Actypolite .- Windham, Grafton, New- fane, Brattleboro', Norwich-the latter very beautiful.
Aguric Mineral .- Lyndon, Groton, Man- chester.
Aluminous Slate .- Pownal, Rockingham.
Amethyst .- Westminster, Ludlow.
Amianthus .- Weybridge, Mount Holly, Lowell, Barton.
Argillaceous Slate .- Common.
Asbestos .- Mount Holly, Lowell, Troy.
Augite .- Charlotte, Chester.
Bitter Spur .-- Grafton, Bridgewater, Lowell.
Blende .- Orwell.
Calcurcous Spar .- Vergennes, Shore- ham, &c.
Calcareous Tufa .- Clarendon, Middle- bury, Hubbardton, Manchester, Orwell.
Carbonate of Lime .- Common.
Chalcedony .- Newfane.
Chlorite, -- Grafton, Windham, Bethel, &c.
Chrysophrase .- Newfane.
Copper, ( Carbonate Green) .-- Bellows Falls, ( Sulphuret, ) Strafford, Waterbury. Copperas .- Strafford, Shrewsbury.
Cyanite .- Grafton, Bellows Falls, Nor- wich.
Diullage .- New Haven.
Dolomite .- Jamaica.
Epidote .- Middlebury, Chester, Berk- shire, &c.
Feldspar .- Townshend, Thetford, Monk- ton, &c.
Fetid Limestone .- Shoreham, Bridport, &c.
Flint .- Orwell.
Fluate of Lime .- Putney, Rockingham.
Carnet -- Bethel, Bridgewater, Nor- wich, &c.
Graphite, Plumbago, or Black Lead .- Hancock, Charlotte.
Hornblende .- Jericho, Ludlow, &c.
Ilornstone .- Middlebury, Shoreham, Sal- isbury, Bennington, Orwell.
Jasper .- Middlebury, in rolled masses.
Kaolin .- Monkton, Brookline.
Lead, ( Sulphuret ) or Gulena .- Sunder- land, Thetford, Danby, Morristown.
Lime, Fluate .- Putney, Rockingham, Thetford.
Lime, Fetid Carbonate .- Bennington.
Lithomarge .- Bennington.
Macle .- Near Bellows Falls.
Manganese, Oryde .-- Bennington, Bran- don, Monkton, Pittsford, Chittenden, Ply- mouth.
Marble .- Shaftsbury, Manchester, Dor- set, Rutland, Middlebury, Swanton, Ply- mouth.
Marl .- Peacham, Barnard, Benson, Al. burgh.
Mica .-- Chester, Craftsbury, Orange, Grafton, &c.
Novaculite, or Oil Stone .-- Thetford, Memphremagog Lake.
Potstone .- Grafton, Newfane.
'Potter's Clau .- Middlebury.
Prehnile .- Bellows Falls.
Quartz .- Common. Fetid Q., Shrews- bury. Greasy Q., Grafton, Hancock, New Haven, &c. Quartz Chrystal, Castleton, Vergennes, Waitsfield, St. Johnsbury, &c. Milky Q., Stock- bridge, Grafton, Middlebury. Radia- ted Q., Hartford. Smoky Q., Shrews- bury, Wardsborough. Tabular Q., Windham.
Rubollite .- Bellows Falls.
Scapolite .-- Brattleborough.
Schorl .- Grafton, Bridgewater, Brattle- borough, Newfane, Dummerston, &c.
Serpentine, Precions .- Lowell, Ludlow, Troy, Cavendish, Windham.
Staurotide .- Rockingham, Vernon.
Steatite,- Grafton, Bethel, Moretown, Bridgewater, Troy, &e.
Stelactite .-- Bennington, Dorset, Ply- mouth, Montpelier.
Sulphur .- Wilmington, Bridgewater.
Tulc .-- Grafton, Windham, Newfane, Ludlow, Bridgewater, Hancock, Montpe. lier, Fletcher, &c.
Titanium .- Whitingham.
Tour maline .- Peacham.
Tremolite .- Bellows Falls, Wardsboro'. Tufa Calcareous .- Orwell, Clarendon, Middlebury, &c.
Zinc .- Orwell.
Zoisite .- Rockingham, Wardsborough.
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