the Monoosnock Brook, whose principal source is in Rocky Pond, which after receiving several streams from the North, and numerous tributaries from the hills in the West and South, runs through the centre of the town, and unites with the Nashua about a mile below Crehore's paper-mill.

The next is Fall Brook, whose principal sources are at Long, Baberry, and Sheldon's hills, which, with one other stream from the South, unitedly empty into the Nashua about two hundred rods above where it enters the town of Lancaster.

In the south-west corner of the town there are several streams, the most important of which is, or formerly was, from the Southern outlet of Rocky Pond, and which, when united, form what is at first called Justice Brook, afterwards Still Water, and runs Southerly through Sterling, and unites with the South branch of the Nashua in West Boylston.

Quite at the Southeast part of the town is the source of one branch of the Wichapekett, in Sterling. And at the northerly part, the outlet of Chualoom Pond forms a considerable stream which passes through meadows of the same name, and through Massapog to Shirley Village, and still farther a small stream takes the same course.

SURFACE, SOIL AND PRODUCTIONS.

Although the Committee on the survey of the New Grant in their report represent "the land as rocky and mountainous, and very poorly accommodated with meadow," yet with the exception of the Monoosnock, Baberry and Rocky Hills, in that portion of the Grant included within the boundaries of this town previous to the annexation of the No Town land, the surface cannot truly be said to be mountainous or rocky. It is true that numerous parts of the town have from time immemorial been designated under the appellation of Hills, such as Bee Hill, Joslin Hill, Chualoom Hill, Nichols Hill, Houghton Hill, Carter Hill, Gardner Hill, Boutell Hill, and some others; but they are generally only gentle swells of the first rate of the upland, not difficult for the farmer to get about upon, and were selected by the first settlers. Although there is a good proportion of level and plane land, yet, strictly speaking, the surface is undulating. But to the No Town land annexed in 1838, the language of the Committee is truly applicable.

And although this town may not abound in deep and miry meadows and swamps, yet there is a fair proportion of the true alluvial meadows lying on the river, the brooks and streams. The upland contains stone sufficient for fence, and, to the credit of the cultivators of the soil be it said, that they have made pretty free use of them for that purpose. But very little

wooden fence is to be seen.

The above named Hills, with one or two exceptions, can all be seen from the windows in the room in which I am now writing. The top of the South Monoosnock Hill is ten hundred and twenty feet above tide-water, being six hundred and six feet higher than the common in the centre of the town near the Meeting-houses. This Hill contains large, and perhaps inexhaustible supplies of the very best granite, lying in strata of every thickness. It is suitable for underpinning, doorsteps, the construction of bridges, and for other purposes; and from $1,500 to $2,000 worth of it is annually quarried and prepared. The North Monoosnock also, the South part of which only lies in this town, is said to contain granite of good quality.

There is a tradition that the first owner of the South Monoosnock, while at work there one Saturday in the afternoon, discovered what

he considered far more valuable than granite, viz. a carbuncle. But being a conscientious man, he did not take it home with him that night, lest the approaching Sabbath might thereby become profaned. But the story got wind, and the next morning, Sunday or no Sunday, the neighbors and others were all on the move searching for the hidden treasure, but without success. And, to the extreme disappointment of the owner himself, behold, Monday morning, it was not where he left it.Whether it had been removed by some magnetic power, or whether he had been deceived by the reflection of the sun's rays, was of no consequence to him. On application to Molly Pitcher, or some other soothsayer, it was predicted that a grandson of his by the same name would find it. There was such a grandson, but it is not known that he ever obtained possession of a jewel so precious, otherwise than by finding a most excellent woman for his wife.

This town probably contains as great a variety of soils as are to be found in any other town in the Commonwealth. And hence the 'natural growth of the wood and timber, as well as the Agricultural and Horticultural productions, are also various.. While the high, coarse, gravelly planes produced only the small pitch

pine, the lower and richer planes were thickly covered with the large white, pitch and yellow pines, for timber. On the deep alluvial was the white and sugar maple, the birch, the beach, the sycamore or button-wood, and the elm. And the rich soils of the upland were thickly covered with the different species of oak, chestnut and walnut. And although of late years great quantities have been cut for the market, there are many heavy timber lots yet remaining. The lumber and fire-wood annually cut and prepared for the last ten years probably does not fall short of 600,000 feet of the former, and 3,000 cords of the latter, at a value of not less than $13,000. Different kinds of fruit trees, such as the apple, pear, peach, plum, cherry, &c., &c., also thrive well on the upland soils. The annual value of such fruits for ten years past may be safely estimated at from $3,000 to $4,000. The Agricultural and Horticultural productions are hay, all the various kinds of grain and vegetables, and garden fruit, the annual value of which for ten years past may be safely set down at from $40,000 to $45,000.

There is much good pasture land in town; and not many years since, butter and cheese of the value of from $8,000 to $10,000 was annually made; but of late, farmers are sending