Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-12-10


will remunerate tho raiser and breaker.
And the reason Vermont horses have been
so popular is, because they furnished more,
and hotter ones, OF this class Of horses than
any others.
The reputation Of Vermont horses declined
because Vermonters sold their best to inn
prove the horses Of other sections aud breeds,
and to mako ino driving horses, instead Of
retaining them to improve their own aud
keep up their standard Of excellence. This,
with too foolish haste and willingness to
believe other Interested parties when thoy
misrepresepted the Morgan as too small,
deficient IN speed. and much Inferior to other
families and breeds Of horses, had treated
n temporary prejudice against Morgan horses
that was gradually being removed MS their
many cxcellencies were becoming better
known, and the fleet ones of the race were
showing their ability to place more horses
under the wire in 2.3O than any other breed.
Statistics were shown to prove that the Nor
gans had thirty-four that recorded that time,
or better. In 1874, while the family that fur
nished tho next largest number was the
Hambletonians, who had twenty-sx In that
class In 1874. Statistics Of several sales OF
horses of different bloOds and inmilies,-
Mambrinos, HnmbletOnians and Thorough
breds, were contrasted, with prices obtained
Mt sales OF horses of Morgan blood, that
proved that the latter really were still sought
than the Former. In view of all these facts,
it WAS for the interest of Vermont farmers TO
save aud cherish their Morgan blood; breed
from their best only; save their best to I'M
prove their future stock. IL thoy do this.
their success and profit in the future Is MS
sured. 40.
After this paper was read, the moeslNs
adjourned without discussion, to meet again
in the evening.
Monday EUening.
Meeting called to order by the chairman,
who introduced Mr. L. b. Smith Of West
Rutland, who read paper on
The Minerals and Forests Of Vermont.
Notwiths landing Vermont is so rich in
ores. the great amount spf iron Is mined
and manufactured without the state. thus
depriving our citizens of the benefit of devel-
oping our own resources AMI encouraging
our own industries. Gold was widely diff
fused, and scattered through the state but
had not been discovered in sufficient quanti-
ties to pay for mining. Along the sides and
near the summit of the Green Mountains,
there exist deposits of minerals, commingled
IN strange confusion. argentiferOus galona,
gold in tracenble quantities, and spathic Oro,
together, in II Matrix OF quartz rock. These
mineral veins have been lately discovered,
and but partially workcd-not enough to
test their magnitude or value. Copper in
rich and extensive veins Is known to exist,
and is extensively mined in Corinth, Yer
shire, ind surrounding towns. The most
important, rs well rs the most widely diff
fused, mineral in the state is carbonate of
lime, in its different forms and comb nations.
Rocks containing any very large proportion
Of lime in their composition are most easily
decomposed by aqueous action, and sooner
become scattered through the surrounding
soil. constantly repairing the wastnge and
adding to its fertility. Lime in its character
ms marble prevails in thick strata, and in
enormous masses, In many parts OF the state,
more especially along its western borders,
extending the entire length of the state, now
being mined to II greater or less extent on
different sections OF the general deposit. The
marbles OF Vermont, from their purity OF
character, are far superior To all others
iound upon this continent, and from their
magnitude and extent are OF enormous value
10 the state. Argillaceous slate exists in
enormous deposits, and affords u rich return
for capital invested in the manufacture of
roofing material, and large slabs for various
other purposes,
The great variety and diverse character of
the minerals of Vermont forbid even men,
ton Of but small part of their number.
Some of the more important are found in
the following, aud other localities; Gold in
Plymouth, Bridgewatur and Warren; silver
and lead IN Mt Tabor, Bridgewater, Morris
town and Thetiord; hematite IN Brandon,
Chittenden. Wallingford. Pittsford. Benning-
ton and SALISBURY; magnetic in Troy, Cav
endish and Wolcott; chronic iron in Rox-
bury and JAY; copper in Corinth, Thetford,
Shrewsbury aud Stratford; limestone and
mari in Colchester, Rutland, Brandon, and
most other towns in the state; slate in North
field. Castleton. Poultney and Fairhaven /;
lilhomarge in Brandon. Dorset and Goshen I;
pumbago in Pittsford, Brandon, Hancock
and Middletown; asbestos and serpentine in
Roxbury, Mt Holly, Plymouth and JAY;
duOmitc in Middlebury, jamaica and Roch-
ester; soapstone IN Troy, Cavendish, Bethel
and Roxbury; marble in Rutland, Brandon,
Pittsford, aLd towns north and south. The
| granite of Vermont is mostly east of the
mountains. In that rock some small veins
OF mica are found, but not worked to any
extent within the state.
The forests OF Vermont furnish timber In
| greater variety and are more extensive and
valuable in character, than are TO be found
in many sections of our country of much
larger extent The great variety of useful
trees OF the state forbid a mention Of even
| half of them in paper like this. Then
| importance us whole has been very much
underestimate. As aids to agriculture
they are OF great use Extensive forests add
| materially to the rainfall of wooded dis
| trictS. Watersheds denuded of their timber
become dry and aid, aud their streams dry
up and cease to flow, or run III greater los
sened volume, fail to lertilizo their banks
and lessen their general usefulness. Criti-
cal observers notice that tho running water
and rain. fall of wooded districts diminish
in the same ratio 9s they are cleared of theil
| tiniheE.
Qfthe cone-hearing trees we have repre-
scntativcs of all the fanilics,-pines, spruce
hemlock, and the frs. Pine, once the pre-
| vailing timber in large sections is now
nearly exhausted. The most valuable o
the family lcft in any quantity ia the noun
tain spruce and hemOck. but tho supply i
becoming rapidly exhausted. The former |,
tho most valuable for building-timber, whcr
protected from the weather. but the latte
resists decay longest when exposed. Among
the hard woods. the maple, birch, elm
beech cherry, alders, oak, ash, hickory
Eastwood and willow, all are found. an'
most Of them in two or three varieties an'
many OF them ARE shipped in quantities L
England and other countries mt paying
prices. The beech is used to stain TO initiate
rose wood, and by glass-bowers; the fame.
kinds of maple for fine cabinet work; hi
elm and oak for ship.bullding, and Othe
uses requiring great strength.
The growth Of wood pRnnot fail to he o
Interest to Nil, As the height increases, tn
stem ndds ring to ring, from year to year
All trees do this by depositlng concentri,
circle around between tho bark and wood
The proportion of forest to the cultivate'
lands Of the state is about three to five, u
this time. Three distinct portions of tn
state contain the most valuable of our for
ests. The first the northeastern portion; tn
second occupies both slopes of the Gree
Mountain range. and is the most extensive
and the third and last the southeastern poi
tion of the state.
Without the aid of excessive artificial fen
tilizers. the fertility Of the soil cannot b
preserved II the forests of the state are nc
perpetuated. they will soon renew theu
selves, If protected from animal depredu
tons and fires. but seldom with the same, @
ms valuable kind Of timber, unless plantin
is resorted to, which has never been done
any extent in Vermont.
Mr. Griggs asked Mr. Smith whether ther
was any live oak 10 Vermont. Mr. Smlt