in summer by the various luxuriant crops. The view to the south
includes, of course, the river, and also the pleasant village of South
Hadley with its Seminary. Springfield is not very plainly visible, but
the spires of Hartford, Connecticut, can be seen on a clear day. To the
south-west, and at one's very feet, is the wide gorge, with Tom rising
directly across, its top being nearly two hundred feet above the
position of the observer. To the north-west Greylock is seen shooting up
its head beyond the Hoosac. To the north-east Monadnock looms up in the
distance, while Wachusett lies low in the eastern horizon. Close to the
observer are Toby and Sugar Loaf, each presenting rather peculiar and
fantastic outlines. The view from Tom is essentially the same as that
from Holyoke, and embracing as it does a radius of at least seventy-five
miles in every direction, over the most fertile and charming region in
New England, is one of rare beauty.

The ridge forming Tom and Holyoke is, as has been said, composed of
greenstone. All the other hills of consequence about the valley of the
Connecticut are sandstone, and this is distinctively a sandstone region.
Of the other three hills to be spoken of, Toby and Sugar Loaf hold about
the same relation to each other as do Holyoke and Tom, the Connecticut
flowing between Toby on the east and Sugar Loaf on the west. The former
is nearly one thousand feet high, and lies in the northern part of
Sunderland village. It is of irregular shape, being indented by a number
of valleys, and is densely wooded, so that until within the last few
years it has not been a very desirable place from which to obtain a
view; but there are now accommodations for sight-seers, and some of the
obstructing forest having been removed, interesting views may now be
obtained from several parts of the hill. The view of the valley of the
Connecticut from the southern part of the highest ridge is perhaps even
finer than that from Holyoke.