Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-02-14

cultivated were, at a geological period
not very remote, the bottom Of ponds,
lakes or the ocean. Much of tn e
present valley of Lake Champlain was
covered with salt water so recently
that the shells of mollusks are found
abundantly in the clays and sands,
more than hundred feet above the
present surface of the water. The
whale, the bones of which are now in
the State Museum, was found 60 feet
above the level of the lake.
Much of the present cultivated land
along the lake, having been so recently
covered with waters of the ocean, has
been permanently enriched thereby.
Portions of Franklin, Chittenden, Ad-
Olson and Rutland Counties, and the
whole of Grand Isle, share in the bene-
fits which have occurred from the over
flow Ofsalt water
Several of the rivers that discharge
their waters into the lake, have their
head branches at considerable dis
lance on the cast side Of Green Noun
tain. 1t will be readily perceived,
that quite large tracts Of land on the
WinOoski, Lamoile, and Missisco riv-
crs, were at one period covered with
water, and that these lands are the
bottom offormer lakes of considera-
ble area. The surface of the waters
Of Lake Memphremagog were, also,
several hundred feet above the present
level, and the low lands of Orleans
County are in the bed Of the former
lake and have been greatly enriched
thereby.
The same fact may be asserted,
with regard to large tracts of inter-
val on the borders of White river and
It's branches, and the other streams in
the more southerly portion of the state.
Many thousand acres Of land now I'M
der cultivation in the states. on the
banks of Connecticut, as we'll as on
the lakes and rivers before mentioned.
having been once the bottom of lakes
and ponds, have been equally enrich
ed thereby; and being to some extent
still annually overhowed by waters
which contain the enriching eIments
derived from the rapidly decomposing
rocks on the surrounding high land
that eXuberance which has character
lied them, will continue, to consider
able extent.
The combination of so many things
favorable to the soil of the state. NAV
reasonably account for its great pro-
ductlveness, not too strongly express
ed by DIR. Hitchcock, in the remarks
before quoted. 1--WE think we have
discovered the reason" | would say
reasons, achy Vermont 50 ercets all
lie other Ne,c England states in the
agricultural capabilities of its soil"
might here close this essay. But
we know that every crop grown. and
every animal tattened and sent to
market, take away as Mr.. Jackson
has wisely said, "a portion of the soil'
itself. am unwilling to close without
a few additional remarks.
The richest soil cannot always
maintain its eXuberance. The pro-
ducts OF it, must diminish by constant
cultivation. This has already become
the experience Of many farmers in the
commonwealth. But the benefcent
Creator has not only provided for us,
In Vermont, a soil of unequalled exu-
berance, but has kindly provided for
continuing this eXubcrance, in the al
most eXhaustless beds of sphaonnus
peat or muck in large portions of the
states "a substance which contains
all the enriching proprieties cow-dung,
the type of manures, Mr.. Dana
terms it in his muck manual. The
quantity Of sphagnous muck, found in
the beds of ancient natural ponds, and
those made by the dams of beavers in
former ages, is adequate to furnish a
needed cnriching properties to the
soil, for thousands of years. More
than half probably three fourths of the
towns in the state, abound in beds of
sphagnOus muck,-and many also in
beds of shell mari, which when cal
clned, a material that, when united
with muck,prepares it to be used on any
soil, not only to equal advantage as
barn manure, but even greater.
Caustic lime, produced by burning
limestone, is Of nearly equal value
with the lime produced by calcined
mari.
Icannot fail to regard the sphagnous
muck, shell mari, and lime rock of our
state, as its material wealth. So eve
ry one will not only believe, but know, |
before the end of century from the |
present time. If the soil of the state |
deteriorates it will be the fault of
those who cultivate it.