St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1905-04-19
Sermons In Stones.


Prof. 6. H. Perkins OF the University
of Vermont. recently visited the Fair
banks Museum for the purpose of re-
naming and reclassifying the fossil
fruits from Brandon. These fossils are now
displayed in a table case at the south end
of the Museum. Small and insignificant
as they appear to the casual observer
their history forms chapter OF intense
interest to the student of Vermont geolo-
gy and few facts concerning them, given
by Prot. Perkins in his recent report as
state geologist, may serve to call the at
tention of visitors to these tiny brown
bodies, which look more like Jumps of
earth than like any fruit which ever
grew on tree or vine.
"The deposit of Ignite near Brandon
was first discovered in 184S while sink
ing shaft for the purpose of working
bed of iron ore. Ignite has not been found
anywhere else in the state, and at Bran.
don as far as can be ascertained. the
deposit is not of large extent. However,it
is so concealed by drift that it is quite TN.
certain how far it may reach"
In 1852. Prof. Edward Hitchcock visit
ed Brandon and found that the fruits
were obtained from bed OF brown coal
connected with the white clays and
brown hematite of the place. He studied
the geology of the region carefully, OBJ
tanned few specimens ofthe fossil fruits,
and made the scientific world acquainted
with this remarkable deposit, in a place
where owing to the character OF the
surrounding country, no geologist would
expect to find it.
The report OF the state geologist con-
tinues, 1.-THE opening mentioned by DR..
Hitchcock has long since been filled up.
but other shafts have been sunk through
the Ignite deposit, notably for the pur-
pose of obtaining clay for the mauufac-
ture of the Brandon Paint and thus
more or less OF the Ignite has been
brought to the surface, and from it a
small number of the fossil fruits have
been obtained. Digging Tor clay ceased
some years ago when the paint works
stopped, and Tor the ten years prior to
| 1908 very few fossils were found.
Two or three years ago small shaft
was sunk for the purpose of getting
white clay for use in paper making, and
small quantity oflignite was thrown
out as the shaft was carried through it.
From this was able to collect small
number of the fossils. AS in previous dig
ging, the work here was not long con-
tinued and no other specimens could be
obtained until the coal famine OF the fill Of
1902 forced people to look in all = irec-
tions for fuel. The Ignite then for e time
came to the front, and more was dug
during that fall and winter than ever be-
fore. 1t was sold to the people Of Bran
don and burned in stoves. Over hun
bred and fifty tons wer4 sold. During
this time collectors in my employ
watched the Ignite as it was brought tt
the surface. and supplied me with the fos
sils."
Prof. Perkins account of the contribu
tions brought in by these collectors dur
ing the brief season wher, the Ignite was
dug, is exceedingly interesting. Thes
rare fossils became the property of th
State Museum and upol the state geolo
gist devolved the task of naming ant
Classifying the dark objects that hold ;
botonical history of days long past, ii
their shrivelled and hardened bodies
The only aids in this work were the brie
and unfinished studies Df DR.. Hitchcock
and the work OF Lesquereux, much o
which, wing to the recent discoveries
had to be changed.
Considering these &C 1ditions, a sur
prising amount has beer done, in naminl
the fossils, and beginning made in relat
irg these fruits to those of modern times
The fossils which were found. have bee
turned over to the State Museum, sma
collections being sold to scientific hodie:
The University of Vermont, Universit
Museum at Harvard, New York Stat
Museum, and a few others, have collet
tons, but that in The Fairbanks Museur
is believed to be the fourth in size an
value.
That there are hundreds of fossils sti
in the bed of Ignite at Brandon is III
doubted, but the latter product did no
prove an unqualified success as fuel, it
no longer dug, and the expense Of sinkiu
shafts down to it, is very great. II som
Andrew Carnegie could become intereste
in the geology OF this little corner of tn
Green Mountain State, what treas
ures the scientific world might gain, an
what knowledge be given to it of tn
drupes and PONIES, the nuts and berries
which grew. ripened and fell in tn
seasons long ago.
D. I.G.