Narrative History; a History of Dover, Massachusetts, As a Precinct, Parish, District, and Town

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1897 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XXIII. NATURAL HISTORY. Geology -- Mineralogy--Flora--Weeds--S Ylva--Shrubs And Vines -- Ferns -- Fauna -- Birds. The blooms of home and native air Are ever dearest to us all. -- L. D. Smith. Oh, loveliest there the spring days come, With blossoms, and birds, and wild bees' hum; The flowers of summer are fairest there, And freshest the breath of the summer air. -- Bryant. The world is too much with us. Late and soon Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers; Little we see in Nature that is ours. -- Wordsworth. GEOLOGY AND MINERALOGY. Gazing upon our hills, valleys, and fertile fields, we seldom realize the fact that the soil which covers them was formed from the decomposition of rocks and the action of organic agencies upon these decomposed particles. Geological formation and environment are said largely to determine plant-distribution. To this cause may be traced the full and exceedingly rich flora of the town. A collection of rocks and minerals has been made, covering the entire territory of the township; and an analysis of the specimens gives the following results: -- Rocks.-- Granite, felsite, diorite, diabase, sandstone. Minerals.-- Pyrites, quartz, porphyry, iron. Granite. The fine-textured part is the ordinary rock; while the coarse is the granite dike, having the minerals deposited from solution. Composition: feldspar, quartz, and mica. Granite with red orthoclase and chlorite. Felsite, worn by water. Contains orthoclase, feld- spar, and quartz. Felsite, red variety. Chalcopyrite. Contains copper, iron, and sulphur. Quartz, worn by abrasion. Ferruginous quartz, oxide of silicon with iron. Quartz crystals upon trap rock. Wad, or earthy manganese, upon quartz; oxide of manganese. Quartz, massive variety; pure oxide of...