The geography, history, constitution and civil government of Vermont

Front matter

ii'i

REWMD EDITION EDITED £ ..

NORTH AMERICA

Introduction To Fifth Edition

BY MASON S. STONE

I.i the title page of his text on Vermont, Mr. Conant quotes from Roger Ascham as follows: " Yf I haue sayed a misse, I am content that any man amende it." On account of the deep insight, the keen discriuiiiiation, and the accurate scholarship for which Mr. Conant was extensively and favorably known, it would seem presumption on the part of any one to attempt to correct anything concerning Vermont published over his name; therefore it should be said, in explanation of the present revision, that it is issued, not for the purpose of correcting the original work, but, if possible, to improve it for school use by a modification of forms of expression, by the addition of new material and by bringing the contents up to date.

The present book contains in a compact and teachable form all the essential facts of the Geography, History and Civil Government of Vermont, also of the Civil Government and Constitution of the United States; it is published specifically for school use and with the purpose of meeting in fullest measure the intent of the law prescribing the teaching of the Geography, History, and Civil Government of the State.

In order that it may be of the greatest service in the school room, certain statistics and facts are included for reference and comparison, but not for study or memorization. The chapters on Civics are written with an appreciation of the benefits to be derived from training in good citizenship, and it is hoped that the matter presented will contribute greatly to the supreme end for which our public schools are maintained.

6 Preface

Fur assistance in the work of revision, especial acknowledgment is made of the valuable services rendered by Hon. Horace W. Bailey, United States Marshal, Hon. Henry L. Clark, Judge of Probate of the Fair Haven District, and Hon. T. C. Cheney, Speaker of the House of Representatives ; acknowledgments are also due to other prominent Vermonters for courtesy in reading proof sheets and for suggestions given, namely: Superintendent Henry O. Wheeler, Dr. H. D. Holton, F. W. Pierce, Elmer Barnum, Frank L. Greene, Henry L. Stillson, Historian, Hon. John Merrifield, Hon. F. W. Baldwin, Hon. H. S. Peck, Hon. A. A. Hall, Hon. Josiah Grout, Hon. F. D. Proctor, Hon. G. M. Powers, Hon. John Senter, and Hon. Henry A. Harman, author of " The Vermont Justice and Public Officer."

While great care has been used in revising, compiling and proof reading, it is expected that trivial errors of print, typographical errors, and possibly mistakes in subject matter may occur in this revised edition. In view of these facts the publishers cordially invite criticism and suggestions for future editions. It is their desire to produce a complete text book on Vermont, one that shall cover its Geography, History and Civil Government, in compliance with the law, and that shall be unsurpassed in accuracy of statement and form of composition. If they have succeeded they ask those interested in our public schools to approve it.

Mason S. Stone

Morrisville, Aug. IQOJ

The Publishers will be pleased to receive notice of corrections or amendments that will contribute to the improvement of future editions of Conant's Vermont.

Table Of Contents

GEOGRAPHY

Location ....

Mountains and Valleys

CHAPTER I Location

ERMONT is in the northeastern part of the United States and in the northwest corner of New England. It is bounded on the north by the Dominion of Canada, on the east by New Hampshire, on the south by Massachusetts, and on the west by New York. I'he northern boundary of Vermont is nearly coincident with the forty-fifth parallel of north latitude, crossing it several times, hence is practically equidistant between the equator and north pole; its eastern boundary is the west bank of the Connecticut River at low water;

Hathaway's Point, St. Albans Bay

its southern boundary is a continuation of the southern boundary of New Hampshire and is nearly the parallel of forty-two degrees forty-four minutes north latitude; and the western boundary extends in a northerly direction from the northwest corner of Massachusetts to the Poultney River and then follows the deepest channel of this river and of Lake Champlain.

riic hackhniie oi tin- (inrii Mc)untain> A lovely bit of dappled green Shut in the circling hills between." — Dorr

Minuii l.t|uiiiox, Mauclicstcr "In the Green Valley"

Mountains and Valleys

CHAPTER II Mountains and Valleys

HE GREEN MOUNTAIN range extends through Vermont in a direction nearly north and south, but it is nearer the western than the eastern side of the State. Just north of Canada line it is terminated by the Missisquoi River; about thirty-five miles south of the Missisquoi, the Lamoille River cuts the range; and eighteen miles further south, the Winooski River also cuts through.

Summit Mount Mansfield looking northeast from Underbill side of Nose " To grasp the beauty Set so thick around."

The highest peaks of this range are, from north to south, Jay, Belvidere, Sterling, Mar.sfield, Camel's Hump, i6

Lincoln, Pico, Killington, Shrewsbury, Stratton and Haystack. Mount Mansfield, with its elevation of 4,389 feet,

is the highest mountain in the State, and K i 1 lington, 4,221 feet, is second. In the southern part of the State, the main range is broad - backed and continuous ; about the middle of the State it becomes narrower and higher, and is from thence accompanied on the east by parallel Killington House, luar Miiniiiii (il \lt. KHIiiigton ranges, which

"List to Nature's wooing calls." ^j.^ consider-

ably broken.

The longest of the parallel ranges is from the White River to the Winooski. A parallel range is found between the Winooski and the Lamoille rivers, the highest peaks of which are the Hogback and Elmore mountains ; another parallel range is between the Lamoille River and Canada line, of which the Lowell Mountains are the highest; and another range is in the northeastern part of the State, the chief mountains of which are Monadnock

Mountains and Valleys 17

in Lemington, Westmore Mountain and Burke Mountain, each of which is over 3,000 feet high. Other prominent

Logs coming down from Mount Pico " The stately children of the wood." — Dorr

peaks of the parallel ranges are the granitic mountains Hor and Pisgah in Westmore, Blue in Ryegate, Knox in Orange, Ascutney in Windsor, and Black in Dummerston.

On the western side of the main range are the Red Sandrock Mountains, the highest point of which is Grandview in the town of Addison. These mountains are near Lake Champlain, stand in a low country, and are therefore unusually conspicuous.

Near the western border and in the southern half of Vermont are the Taconic Mountains. They do not form a continuous ridge as the Green Mountain range, but are broken into groups. Of these, Herrick, Eolus and Equinox Mountains, and Mount Anthony are the chief.

The main water-shed of Vermont coincides with the Green Mountain range from the Massachusetts line nearly to Lincoln Mountain ; thence it deflects to the east, crosses narrow north-and-south valleys, follows along northerly i8

GEO(;RAPH^ OF \'i:r.m{)\t ridges, extends in an irregular course to the northeastern part of the State and at Canada line is quite near the Connecticut River.

In the town of Sheffield, about twenty miles south of Lake Memphremagog, a lateral water-shed curves reversely around the headwaters of the Lamoille River and the large bend of the Black River, in Orleans County, and follows

Ascutney Mountain from old Indian road to Crown Point,

near Sprinj^field

" Earth fills her lap with pleasures of her own "

the ridge of the Lowell Mountains into Canada, thus forming with the main water-shed a system of drainage in the north central part of the State, of which Lake Memphremagog is the reservoir, known as the North Central Valley. That portion of the State which lies east of the main

Mountains and Valleys water-shed is in the Connecticut Valley, and the portion west of the main and lateral water-sheds is in the Champlain-Hudson Valley.

Between the Green and Taconic Mountains is what may be called the Southwest Valley of Vermont. On the east of this valley the Green Mountains form an unbroken wall, while to the westward are the Taconic Mountains with numerous gaps.

The Central Valley of Vermont lies east of the main range of the Green Mountains and extends from Canada line to the Black River, southeast from Killington Peak. Near the middle of its northern portion, this valley is almost filled by Norris Mountain in the town of Eden. The portion between the Lamoille and the Winooski rivers is the widest. The portion between the Winooski and the White rivers is crossed about midway by the main water-shed of Vermont. The southern portion, in which are branches of the White, Quechee, and Black rivers, is quite irregular in its direction.

Bellows Falls and the Connecticut River

Gt-OC.R.MMI^ OF X'kR.MONT

Boundary Waters

CHAPTER III Boundary Waters

HE Connecticut River rises in New Hampshire,

forms the entire eastern boundary of Vermont,

passes through A'lassachusetts and Connecticut

—s^mfm ^^^ empties into Long Island Sound. Its

^■^^ chief commercial use is to float logs from the

upper portion of its valley to the manufacturing towns below ; but it also furnishes abundant water power which is made use of in Vermont for manufacturing purposes, especially at Canaan, Guildhall,

Lunenburg, Mclndoes, Ryegate, Wilder, and Bellows Falls. Poultney River forms a boundary for several ^ miles between New York and Vermont.

On Canada line is W^allis Pond, about A logging crew on the Connecticut two-fifths of which is in the town of Canaan. Lake Memphremagog is an attractive body of water on the northern boundary of the State and about midway between the Connecticut River and Lake Champlain. It is nearly thirty miles long, two or three miles wide, and lies about one-fourth in Vermont and the remainder in Canada. Near its southern extremity are the villages of Newport and West Derby; and at its northern extremity is its outlet, the St. Francis River, which empties into the St. Lawrence. Lake Champlain, reported to its discoverer by the Indians as " a large lake, filled with beautiful islands, and a fine country surrounding it," is partly in Vermont, partly in New York and partly in Canada. Its length is one hundred twenty-six miles, its greatest width in clear water is thirteen miles, and its average width is about four and one-half miles. Its outlet is the Richelieu River, which empties into the St. Lawrence about forty-five miles below Montreal. There are many islands in this lake, the chief of which are North Hero, South Hero, and Isle La Motte, all in Vermont and all unusually attractive as summer resorts. This lake was an important thoroughfare before white men traversed it, — and it is so still, although the railroads through and on each side of it and those crossing both its northern and southern portions somewhat diminish its importance as a waterway. In colonial days and during the Revolutionary War and the War of i8i2, there were strong fortifications on the west side of it, while near and upon it several important battles were fought.

The Hudson River rises among the Adirondack Mountains west of Lake Champlain and flows southeasterly, then southerly to New York Bay, and is navigable from the

ocean to Troy,

Eagle Camp Beach on Lake Champlain, Grand Isle County which is just west of the southern boundary of Vermont. This river is wholly in New York, but it receives tributaries from Vermont

and, with Lake Champlain and the Hudson

Canal, forms an important line of communication along the western border of Vermont.

CHAPTER IV Internal Waters of Vermont

HE RIVERS of Vermont may be treated in four groups: the tributaries of the Connecticut River, of Lake Memphremagog, of Lake Champlain, and of the Hudson River.

The tributaries of the Connecticut River, of which the Nulhegan, Passumpsic, Wells, Waits, Ompompanoosuc, White, Quechee, Black, Williams,

Black River at Springfield ; where perch and pickerel hide

Saxtons, West and Deerfield are the chief, rise in the main water-shed of Vermont and flow in a southerly or southeasterly direction, the last named emptying into the

ConiH'cticut in Massachusetts. Hall's Stream, wliich separates New Hampshire from Canada for a short distance,

cuts across the northeastern corner of V'^ermont and empties

into the Connecticut about one-half mile below Canada line. The Vermont tributaries to Lake Memphremagog are

the Barton and the Black from the south, and from the

east the Clyde, which is uniform in its flow on account of the numerous lakes and ponds which serve as reservoirs for its waters.

The principal

Vermont tributaries of Lake Champlain are the Missisquoi, Lamoille, Winooski,

Otter Creek, and Poultney rivers. The first three of these

rise east of the main Green Mountain range, the first

flowing around the

northern extremity

of the range, and

the other two

breaking through

it. The Missisquoi

is navigable to

Swanton, about six

miles, and the Otter

Creek to Vergennes,

eight miles from

Lake Champlain.

The tributaries to the Hudson from Vermont are the

Battenkill and the Hoosac, each of which receives important

Lamoille River, near Johnson

North Duxbury, looking down the Winooski River tributaries after leaving the State, Not only do the streams of Vermont water beautiful and fertile valleys, but along their courses they furnish valuable water power for manufacturing purposes.

The waterfalls most worthy of mention on account of

their size,

height, or

beauty are

Bellows Falls in the Con-

Palisades on Winooski River, near Waterbury " All was silent as a dream Save the rushing of the stream."

necticut River,

Springfield Falls in the Black River, Hartland Falls in the

Quechee River, Bolton Falls in the Wells River, Troy Falls

Bolton Falls Dam and electric light plant

GliOGRAl'in' OF VliRMOXT and Swanton Falls in the Missisquoi River, Morrisville Falls, Fairfax Falls, and Milton Falls in the Lamoille River,

Falls of the Lamoille at Morrisville

Bolton Falls and Winooski Falls in the Winooski River, and Gookins Falls, at Center Rutland, Sutherland Falls at Proctor, Middlebury Falls, Belden Falls and Vergennes Falls, in the Otter Creek.

Carver's Falls at Fair Haven, Castleton River " Where the silver brook from its full laver pours the white cascade."

There are many interesting falls on smaller streams, but those of especial attraction are Molly's Falls in Marshfield,

Moss Glen Falls in Stowe, Lana Cascade in Salisbury, Hamilton Falls in Jamaica, and Brockway Falls in Rockingham. Also there are several river gorges worthy of mention, the most remarkable of which are Cavendish Gorge, near the middle of the course of the Black River, Quechee Gorge, near the mouth of the Quechee River, Middlesex Narrows in the Winooski River, and Clarendon Gorge in Mill River.

Of the many lakes and ponds wholly within Vermont, the most numerous are in the northeastern part of the State, while the largest and most patronized as summer resorts are in the south-central section of the State and west of the main range of mountains, of the State, Willoughby Lake is the largest and in pic-

Quechee Gorge In the northeastern part

Gookins Falls on Otter Creek, Center Rutland

Sutherland Falls at Proctor on Otter Creek

Falls at Middlebury on Otter Creek turesqueness is unsurpassed in Vermont. Other important lakes and ponds in this part of the State are, in order of size, Seymour Lake in Morgan, Island Pond in Brighton, Great Averill Pond in Averill, Crystal Lake in Barton, Norton Pond in Norton, Maidstone Lake in Maidstone, Salem Pond in Derby, May Pond in .Barton, and Little Averill Pond in Averill.

On the eastern side of the State are Groton Pond, situated amid granitic mountains, Fairlee Lake in West Fairlee, Morey Lake in Fairlee, on w^hich Samuel Morey plied his steamboat in 1793, and Joe's Pond in Cabot and Danville.

Joe's Pond, West Danvilk

In the north-central section are Caspian Lake in Greensboro, Great Hosmer Pond in Albany and Craftsbury, and Eden Pond in Eden.

In the northwestern section of the State are Franklin Pond, remarkable for its curious pond walls, and Fairfield Pond.

30 Geography of V^ermoxt

On the western side of the State are Lake Dunmore in Salisbury, celebrated in the tale of the Green Mountain Boys, Lake Bomoseen in Castleton, a fashionable summer resort, Lake St. Catherine in Wells and Poultney, a lake in two parts connected by a narrow channel, and Lake Hortonia in Sudbury, noted for its charming bits of scenery.

There are many other lakes and ponds in Vermont, some of which are as important as those named and all remarkable for the purity of their waters and for the beauty of their scenery.

In the foregoing enumeration it is impossible to enter into a description of the various places, each of which has its own peculiar charm and feature. Without discriminating, it can truly be said that Vermont is unique in the diversity and picturesqueness of its scenery. Everj-where there are purling brooks and sedgy ponds and charming lakes with their settings of leafy wood and rolling hills. Along the rivers stretch the highways leading up to the little valleys among the mountains, and at every turn and from every point are extensive views of sweeping valley and pastoral life, while in the dense forests of the mountain sides are strolling deer, and every stream has gamey trout sporting in the cozy nooks and under the little cascades. Such inviting scenes, together with the salubrious climate, the abundance of fish and game and the excellent hotel accommodations, are rapidly winning a patronage of summer visitors to Vermont that is beneficial alike to the State and to the summer guest.

Caspian Lake, Greensboro

Lake Morey, Fairlee " Crowned with light the mountains stand Royally on either hand." — Dorr

A fourteen mile drive in Rutland County; Lake Hortonia in the distance, Echo and Beebe Lakes in the foreground

QUESTIONS ON THE TEXT AND MAP MOUNTAINS AND RIVERS

Describe the Green Mountain range. Trace it on the map. Point out the higliest mountains in it. Describe and trace the ranges parallel to the main range. Describe the main water-shed of Vermont. Trace it on the map. Describe the Taconic Mountains. Point out the highest of them. Describe the Red Sandrock Mountains. Describe and point out the granitic mountains.

Describe the Southwest Valley of Vermont. Trace it. What rivers are found partly within it? Describe and trace the Central Valley of Vermont. What rivers cross it?

What rivers form portions of the boundary of Vermont? In what directions do they flow? Into what waters?

Name the Vermont tributaries of the Connecticut River. Which of them flows into Massachusetts ? In what direction does it flow while in Vermont? What other of these tributaries flows southward?

Name the Vermont tributaries of Lake Memphremagog. In what direction does each of them flow ?

Name the Vermont tributaries of Lake Champlain. In what direction does each flow? On which side of the Green Mountains does each rise? Which have tributary lakes? Name the lakes. On which side of the Taconic Mountains is the Otter Creek? On which side of them does the Castleton River rise? The Poultney River? The Battenkill?

Name the Vermont tributaries of the Hudson River. In what direction does each flow? Which enters Vermont from another State? From what State? Into what State do they all flow?

Name the chief w-aterfalls of Vermont. Point them out on the map.

Name the chief lakes and ponds of Verrpont and locate them on the map.

Draw a map of Vermont showing its boundaries, mountains and rivers.

ASSAC(HU5£Tr8

Geography of Vermoxt

Silver Lake, Leicester " Summer comes with joys for all."

Crystal Lake, Barton

" See the field, the shore, the wildwood.

St. Albans, vliowiii^ depot of Cential \eiinont Railroad

T li ii li

Chapter V

HE INDIANS were the first engineers, and the railroads that run along the river valleys or cross the State follow the old Indian trails. Also the lines of water travel pursued today are those followed by the Indians in prehistoric days. But today a canal connects the head of Lake Champlain with the Hudson River, so that through the Champlain-Hudson Valley there is an uninterrupted water-way consisting of the Richelieu River, Lake Champlain, Hudson Canal, and Hudson River, thus connecting the St. Lawrence River with New York Bay. By means of this water route the ports on Lake Champlain receive merchandise from New York City, coal from the mines of Pennsylvania, and lumber from the Canadian . forests.

This water-way is paralleled on either side by a railroad route. The one traversing Vermont enters the State at Alburg, passes through the principal islands of Lake Champlain, crosses to the mainland near the mouth of the

Gkographv of Vermont

Winooski River, continues near the Lake until it reaches the Otter Creek, follows up this river and through the Southwest Valley, and leaves the State at North Bennington. At Rutland this line also diverges to the east, crosses over the main range of the Green Mountains, runs down the eastern slope to Bellows Falls, and connects with lines to Boston and Springfield, Mass., and New York.

Rutland Kailrciiul, at summit of (iiccii Mcuiniains, in town of Mount Holly — Green Mountain Flyer " Whizzing through the mountains, Buzzing o'er the vale." — Saxe

Another railway line which crosses the State enters Vermont from Montreal at Highgate, passes southward near Lake Champlain as far as the Winooski, then follows up this river, down the White River to White River Junction, and down the Connecticut to Windsor. At White River Junction connections are made for Boston.

A line starts from Swanton and crosses the northern part of the State to Lunenburg, thence is continued by another line across New Hampshire to Portland, Maine. At Newport a road from Montreal and one from Quebec meet and form a line which follows up the Barton River, down the Passumpsic to the Connecticut, thence down the Connecticut to various points in Massachusetts. At Wells River, White River Junction and at Bellows Falls, connections are made for Boston.

Gordon's Landing on Lake Champlain, Grand Isle County

A direct line from Montreal to Portland crosses the northeastern corner of Vermont through Island Pond, and another line enters Vermont at Canaan, follows down the Connecticut, partly in New Hampshire, as far as Guildhall, and then crosses New Hampshire for Portland.

From Rutland a line runs westward and leaves the State at Fair Haven. At Castleton a branch of this road runs southward, follows close to the boundary line between Vermont and New York, and leaves the State at West Rupert.

There are various short lines that serve as connecting links between important stations on main lines, as follows: Richford and St. Albans, St. Albans and Alburg, Burlington and Essex Junction, Essex Junction and Cambridge Junction, Montpeller and Wells River, Leicester Junction and Ticonderoga, N. Y.

Also there are various spurs from main lines, namely, — from North Bennington to Bennington, Manchester to

Dorset, New Haven Junction to Bristol, Montpelier to Barre, Montpelier to WilHamstovvn, Concord to East Haven, Bethel to Rochester, White River Junction to Woodstock, Brattleboro to South Londonderrv, and from Hoosac Tunnel, Mass., to Stratton.

Montpelier is not located on a main line, but is near one and has connection with all trains, Bennington has a railway outlet westward, as well as northward via North Bennington.

Mountain road building, Danby

There are four steam roads for the transportation of freight, mostly stone and marble, rather than for travel, the one connecting the marble quarries of Pittsford, Proctor, Rutland and West Rutland, the one connecting the granite quarries of Barre town and vicinity with lines at the city of Barre, the one connecting the quarries of Woodbury with the main line at Hardwick, and the Bethel Granite railway.

The first electric road in Vermont was opened in Burlington, September 5, 1893, supplanting the first horse-car line in the State. Since then all the other cities of the

State, except Vergennes, have introduced electric lines. Also electric lines have been put in as follows: Montpelier to Barre, Waterbury to Stowe, St. Albans to Swanton and St. Albans Bay, Burlington to Essex Junction, Rutland to Fair Haven and Lake Bomoseen, Bennington to North Ben-

Lake Bomoseen, Rutland County " That eye before which stands Nature's art revealed "

nington and Williamstown, Mass., Brattleboro to West Brattleboro, Bellows Falls to Saxtons River, and Springfield to Charlestown, N. H. Various other lines are already projected.

In igo6 there were in Vermont 1060 miles of steam railway, and over lOO miles of electric road, operated by ten different companies.

An effort is being made for the construction of permanent roadbeds along the common highways and, to encourage such improvements, a law was enacted in 1892 levying a tax annually for this purpose. The Legislature of 1906 greatly aided the cause of good roads by making a generous appropriation and by providing for their construction under experts in road making.

QUESTIONS ON THE TEXT AND MAP RAILROAD JOURNEYS

Take the shortest route by rail unless some other is mentioned.

Name the important towns one will pass through in going by rail :

From Alburg to Bennington; to Brattleboro; to St. Johnsbury; to Newport.

From Newport to St. Albans; to Brattleboro.

From Woodstock to Rutland via Burlington; via Bellows Falls.

From South Londonderry to Fair Haven.

From Montpelier to Highgate Springs; to Newport; to Brattleboro; to Bennington.

From the station nearest your home to Swanton ; to Bennington; to Ludlow; to Brattleboro; to Morrisville.

Draw a railroad map of Vermont.

Name the railroad junctions in \'ermont.

Compare this map with the map of mountains and rivers.

Name the lakes or ponds and rivers near which one will pass in taking each of the journeys named above.

H U S E fj^T S

Lake St. Catherine, Rutland County

Silver Lake, Barnard

Climate

CHAPTER VI Climate

ERMONT is near the middle of the North Temperate Zone and is in the region of westerly winds. The temperature, amount of moisture and the winds are favorable to the health of the people and to the productiveness of the soil. The mean annual temperature for

the different parts of the State varies from forty degrees

to forty-seven degrees; the highest temperature varies from

ninety to one hundred degrees ;

and the lowest from thirty to

forty-five degrees below zero.

The average annual rainfall

is from thirty inches in the

portion of the State having the

least rainfall to forty-fiye

Inches in the portion having

the greatest amount of rain.

In the valleys the direction

and force of the winds are

greatly modified by the adjacent mountains and hills ;

however, rain and snow storms

come mostly from the west and U. S. weather signals, established 1870; 11 J J J • forecast of weather published every day;

are usually preceded and, m ^ ^ . , ^ , .

•' '^ ' hrst official records sent out from station

the beginning, accompanied by at Burlington. March so, 1906.

south winds. Northeasterly

and southeasterly storms sometimes occur, but they are not

frequent. West, northwest and north winds indicate fair

weather.

Snow usually appears in October, but it does not come to remain until December, and, in the northern part of the State, generally stays until April. There is less snow near Lake Champlain and in the southwestern portion of the State than in other parts, and the spring opens earlier in these sections and in the lower portion of the Connecticut Valley than it does in other sections of the State. On account of the salubrity of its climate, the purity of its air and the freshness and beauty of its scenery, Vermont not only is becoming a summer resort, but is attracting permanent residents from the cities of other States.

A Green Mountain stock farm in winter

" The old brown farmhouse seems to sleep,

So calm its rest is and so deep." — Dorr

Chapter VII

HE SOIL of Vermont is very fertile, especially along the river valleys. The low, rolling hills are excellent for tillage purposes, the uplands are used for pasturage, and the mountain sides produce much valuable timber.

The total acreage of the State, in land, is 5,846,400, of which 4,724,440 acres are divided among 33,104 farms, comprising 2,126,624 acres of improved land, about one-third of which is tillage. In proportion of farm acreage to the total land area Vermont is the sixth State, and in value per capita of agricultural products it is exceeded only by eleven States.

The chief product of Vermont is the grass of the pastures and hay-fields, which is converted into milk, butter, cheese and meat for market. Vermont produces more butter and cheese in proportion to population than any other State, and is about the tenth State in the amount of these products. In 1902, the amount of butter and cheese produced in creameries and factories was respectively 25,000,000 and 3,900,000 pounds. In addition, about 5,000,000 pounds of butter were made on the farms; about 400,000 pounds of casein, a by-product of creameries, was manufactured ; and the condensed milk factories used about one-tenth as much milk, or 5,000,000 pounds, as went' into the manufacture of cheese.

From 1890 to 1900 the number of butter, cheese and condensed milk factories more than doubled in Vermont ; in the latter year there were 180 butter-making plants, 61 cheese factories, and 14 cream and condensed milk establishments, more than half of the total number in all New England. Vermont also surpasses the other New England States in the production of butter and cheese; in amount of hay, wheat, corn, and barley raised ; and in number of farm-kept cattle and swine.

The other chief products of the field are oats, potatoes, corn, barley, buckwheat, rye, wheat, beans, peas, and vegetables. The following data from the United States Agricultural Report for the year 1902 will be found serviceable for future comparisons :

Tui' AvER.AGE Production hkr Acre and Value per Bushel for the United States and for Vermont bushels per acre