Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-02-14
Exuberance of the Soils of Vermont.
r, AnAddre.s before the Vermont Historical Society
BY REV. s. R. HALL.


devoted to the cultivation of the soil,
or to other Industrial pursuits, is in
terested in whatever adds to the ma
terial prosperity of the Common
wealth. The State being distant from
the ocean, and having no natural water
communication with it, except through
foreign territory, has been and must
continue to be devoid of facilities for
commerce. on which the other New
England States depend for a large
measure of their thrift and prospect
ty.
IS But i'll the benevolent arrangements
ofthe Creator, a Com; ensdtion is found
. in the unequalltd productiveness Of
her soil and character of her rocks.
If we may rely on the accuracy of the
statistics, gathered by the agents for
q collecting the facts of the census, we
shall find the products of no equal
number Of acres of arabic land in any
OF the United States, so abundant as
In our own State.
The products of the dairy may be
exceeded in a single county of New
York, where the entire resources OF
the soil are devoted to this branch
Of business: and the same NAV be true
of some other things in other parts OF
the country. But no portion Of Yer
mont is wholly devoted to any single
branch of agricultural industry
When it is ascertaincd that more cat
tie and horses are reared,-mOre but
ter, cheese and wool are produced,-
more hay. oats, corn and potatoes are
raised, than from any other equal eX-
tent of cultivated land,-whilc other
crops, as wheat, barley, rye, hops, &C.,
are not deticient,-wc may enquire
for the reasons Of the remarkable pro
ductivcness of the soil, which laws the
foundation for results like these. Is
the sugar crop accounted for by the
number and size Of the noble forest
trees which produce it? This will
lead to still another inquiry-Why is
the maple found so much more abund-
ant and prolific, than in the other
States Of similar area or latitude?
The answer to this, as in other
things, must be found essentially iii the
character of the soil itself.
1t Is no doubt true that the peculiar
excellence Of the horses and sheep OF
Vermont, and the mequalled crop OF
wool per head is, in part, attributable
to skill in those who rear animals. and
to the excellence of breeds. But it is
still true that excellence in breeds CT
skill IN rearing, has no patent; to
limit either to our commonwealth.
The climate may indeed favor excel
lencc III giving geographical location,
but 1t cannot be the primal cause OF
chief excellence in any of the produc-
tons Of our State.
DR.. Hitchcock says, "the rocks OF
Vermont are the most difficult with
which | have ever attempted to Crap
pie; but they have taught me many
valuable lesson. and as to their eco
nomical value, have been impressed
with the following facts First. and
most important of all, we think we
have discovered the reason why Yer
mont so eXcels all the other New Eng
land States in the agricultural capa-
biiitics OF its soil. It's the existence.
in almost all OF her rocks, of lime in
such state that natural processes
bring 1t out in just about the quantity
needed by vegetation. This is the
case III many parts Of the State where
the inhabitants hardly suspect the OK
istence of lime, and those parts of the
State most fertile are just the places
where lime is most abundant and de-
compOsable. This is treasure which
Providence has hidden in the earth
and provided for its elimination at the
right time and quantity, AID it is of far
more value i'll my estimate, than all
the other subterranean wealth of the
State; yet had no suspicion of its
existence and use till late stage in
this survey, excepting on the west side
of the Green Mountains"
The single fact to which DR.. II.
alludes, as occurring to himnot till a
late period Of the survey, superintend-
ed by himself, was as familiar to the
writer during the first years of the
Geological survey commenced by Prof
Adams, with whom Prof Thompson
and myself were associated.
DIR. Hitchcock, in the remarks lust
quoted, assigns the prominent reason
Tor the eXuberance of the soil of Yer
mont, but not the only reason.
Several other thugs combine to
produce the effect which elevates the
state of Vermont so far above the
nelghbouring States and territories
These | shall endeavor to specify in
the order of their Importance.
To the character of the rocks or
Vermont is to be ascribed the promi-
nent reason for the great excellence of
her soil. This excellence, however. is
not to be attributed alone to the fact
that so many ofthem contain a greater
or less proportion of carbonate of
lime. Vast tracts of land in other
portions of our common country are
equally rich in lime, where the soil is
much less exuberant. Much depends !
on the position of the limestone. and +
The compactneSs Of the rock. That +
which gives portions Of the marble of
our own State its peculiar excellence c
or statuary, and as a building stone 1
Us capacity to resist the influence of a
am frost, &C., prevents its most valu- G
lole influence in aiding the produc- n
lve9ess OF soil. Some quarries of 5
marble, after receiving he polish d
when add SO much to the beauty and !,
'alqe OF the stone, would not decom. j
'ose by tie the action of air. frost. and ?,
ain, more rapidly til an the hest Il
'ranite and syrenite. The soil novor -
yOuld therefore raoo;x,o ln41 :.4l '"