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CHAPTER II.

General description of the state. Its name.-Surface.-Exterior appearance. Its shape, and boundaries.-Road from Brattleboro to Albany.-Scenery near Bennington and Manchester.— Former and present stage route across the mountain.-Road on the banks of the Battenkill, through Arlington. Deceptive appearance of the distant prospects.-Variegated appearance in Rutland county and Addison.-Chimney Point.-The country along Lake Champlain to Burlington and St. Albans.Franklin County.-Prospect from Westford.-Soil on the Connecticut river. On the hills and vallies east side; and on the west side of the mountain.-How enriched.-Interval.-Hills.— Soil near Rutland, Middlebury and other places.-Gardens and productions of Burlington.-Franklin county compared with other counties.-Crops produced, how abundantly.-Agricultural fair at Sheldon.—Cattle, beef and pork.-Dairies.—Butter, Cheese. How put up for market.-Wool.-Extensive flocks. -How kept.-Honey Bee.-Patent Hive.-Sugar.

VERMONT was the last settled of the New England States; and admitted into the Union not till after the Revolutionary war. It is divided by the Green Mountains, which run from north east to south west, its whole length; the eastern border being washed by the Connecticut river, and the greater part of the western by Lake Champlain.

Its name is descriptive of the mountain which passes

through it, and was probably suggested by the evergreens which adorn it. It is composed of two words, which signify verdant and mountain. No state is more appropriately named. No one in the Union has more beautiful and sublime mountain scenery. It presents many interesting and magnificent prospects.

That portion of it, which is situated on the east side of the mountain is uneven and hilly, especially in the south eastern part, the interval on the Connecticut being narrow. In, the northern part, the surface is less uneven; the margin on the river wide, affording rich meadows and arable land, which are highly cultivated, and divided into beautiful farms.

It presents on the map a figure of four unequal sides. The eastern line follows the winding and irregular course of the Connecticut, and is somewhat the longer side; being about one hundred and ninety miles. The northern line is that which separates it from Canada, and is more regular, running from north east to south west, and is about ninety miles long. The western border is also very irregular, particularly that part washed by the waters of Champlain, which indents it with numerous bays, coves and inlets, forming beautiful Islands; and a large one called Grand Isle, and which of itself makes a county. The southern part of this line, separating it from New York, is more regular. On the south it is divided from Massachusetts by a comparatively straight line of about forty miles in length.

The southern part of the state is very uneven, the hills approaching to the very bank of the Connecticut,

and almost to the line of New York. For a number of years, the stage road from Brattleboro to Albany went directly over the highest ridges, and in many places is fearfully steep. The route is now more circuitous and less arduous, following the course of streams, winding round the hills, and leading you unexpectedly by a gentle declivity into Bennington or Manchester, if you wish to visit Saratoga Springs. If the present route is less difficult and laborious, a desirable relief to the horse, it affords fewer points of extensive and beautiful prospects to the traveler. The original direction of the road for twenty miles was mostly through the forest, over steep hills, and through deep vallies, with here and there a clearing, and a dwelling with its hospitable sign, surmounted by a rudely carved mountaineer, brandishing in the whistling wind, some implement of husbandry. On its summit, the lofty beeches and birches, bear the initials of many a traveler, which now like many other records of this world, are overgrown with moss, and will soon become illegible. But this route presents very extensive and interesting prospects to the east, south, and particularly to the west.

From the summit near Bennington the prospect at a clear rising sun is majestic beyond description. The rays of the sun lead your view distinctly to, and even beyond the Helderberg, some forty miles beyond the Hudson, and down that river below the Catskill mountains. The mind is filled and elated with the contemplation, and an early ride of ten or fifteen miles to reach this point with the rising sun, is richly rewarded by the

pleasure of the scene. It is one calculated to impress the mind with reverential and grateful thoughts of God, and through his works let it run up to his throne in thanksgiving and praise.

In passing this twenty miles of steep hills, and deep vallies, the stage required no more time than in going over the same distance on a level road. The time lost in going slowly up the steeps, was regained in going rapidly down the declivities. So rapid was the descent, that one needed steady nerves to abide it; and yet no instance of being upset on this most difficult place of crossing the Green Mountains has been known, while on the level road from Bennington to Troy it has often been overturned. This mountain turnpike had become so proverbial, that a gentleman from Boston, passing it with his horse and chaise, said, "that if he had found it no more than perpendicular, he would have been satisfied; but coming to the places where it leaned the other way, it was hard scratching." But this is now one of the deserted ways of this world, and. the new way runs a more easy course, and none need hesitate encountering it.

The scenery around Manchester is delightful; and to a stranger, very impressive. Indeed on visiting it for the first time, one is surprised that the inhabitants are apparently so unconscious of the unusual delineations of nature with which they are surrounded. One sees not how they can pursue their ordinary occupations and keep their eyes from becoming fixed on the interesting scenes, which the Spring, and Summer and Autumn

present them. But Winter too, has its attractions in her snows and frosts which cover these lofty eminences, rendering them in appearance still more elevated and grand, overhanging the shrubbery and evergreens with their white drapery.

In the sultry season of July and August, the traveler, returning from Saratoga Springs, crossing the Hudson near the battle ground at Stillwater; and passing through Unionville, has a delightful entrance into Vermont. The road running on the banks of Battenkill, and it seems difficult for art, having ample means at command, to contrive a route more engaging, or better calculated to please and animate the mind through the medium of the eye. The interchange of sun and shade; of gentle rising hills; and of pleasant vallies; of water flowing smoothly along in one place; and in another, murmuring over the rocks and precipices, becomes more and more interesting as you leave the borders of New York. In passing through Arlington, the road on the margin of the river is nearly level, but skirted by gradually ascending hills and mountains; and in the sultry sun of August, the scenery around you will animate and cheer you, leaving impressions on your mind not easily effaced. You will remember a ride through Arlington during the fiery reign of Sirius, as long as you live. In some places the ascent from the stream and road seem so gradual and regular, that one would think them the work of art; in another, so abrupt and disjointed and irregular are the eminences and ridges, that the spectator regards them as the works of nature in one of her wild