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to the height of twelve or fourteen feet, and the ear springs from the twelfth or thirteenth joint, far above the reach of a man standing on the ground-In the middle parts of the United States, the species cultivated grow to the height of eight or ten feet, and the ears spring from the fifth, sixth or seventh joint--In the more northern parts and in Canada, a species of four or five feet growth, with ears shooting from the seeond and third joints, is the only one which the shortness of the summer heat, will permit to come to maturity. What an admirable proof is this of the wisdom and goodness of the Creator, thus to fit the several speeies of this all important grain, to the several climates of the globe!

Of the Potatoe The discovery of America added this invaluable root to the esculent vegetables of the eastern continent. It was found and carried to Europe by some of the adventurers under sir Walter Raleigh, The ease with which it is cultivated, the great quantity of food which it furnishes from a small portion of land, the little injury that its cultivation does to the soil, and its nourishing qualities, which render it a substitute for bread, and the ease and little expense of dressing it for the table, render it one of the most useful plants, especially to the poor; and its cultivation has, in no small degree, diminished the chances of famine, which was formerly so frequent in Eu

rope.

Of Tobacco. When tobacco was first introduced into England, king James issued a proclamation against the use of such an offensive plant. But the prejudices against it gradually subsided, and it now forms a considerable article of consumption in all parts of the

world

It thrives well in all parts of the United States In the northern region, it is cultivated chiefly for domestic use, but in the middle states, chiefly in Maryland and Virginia, it constitutes an important article of export.

Of the Kinds of Grain not Indigenous. Wheat, rye, barley, oats, buckwheat, millet and rice, have been introduced into the United States. Of these wheat is the

most generally cultivated, and is esteemed the finest grain. On suitable soils, which are the dry and gravelly, or the rich mould of new lands, it thrives in every part of the United States, except on the Atlantic shore of the eastern states. Even in that part of the country, it was cultivated with success for thirty or forty years after our ancestors settled in America, but it now fails. Rice is cultivated only in the Carolinas and Georgia, where it is raised in great quantities, for exportation. The other species of grain grow well in any part of the United States, and since the failure of wheat in the eastern states, rye is much used for bread, either alone, or mixed with maiz, or in some parts, where wheat will grow, with a small portion of wheat, which mixture is called meslin.

Of Plants cultivated for Clothing. Hemp and fax grow well in all parts of the United States, where the soil is sufficiently rich and suitable. Flax is every where raised for clothing, in greater or less quantities, and manufactured into coarse cloth. The seed is exported to Ireland, or furnishes oil for paints. Hemp for cordage may be cultivated generally, but its culture is confined to a few towns. Cotton grows well in the southern and western parts of the United States, and is cultivated in great quantities, as well for domestic manufacture, as for exportation. Indiga thrives well in the Carolinas and Georgia, as well as in the Missisippi territory, and was formerly a considerable article of export; but the high price of cotton has lately occasioned the culture of indigo to be neglected."

Of Silk and Vines. Silk may be cultivated in all parts of the United States, care being taken to preserve the eggs of the worms from the frost in winter. The attempts made in New-England to introduce the culture demonstrate that the climate and soil are favorable, and that nothing but the high price of labor prevents an attention to this object. Vines are the spontaneous production of all parts of this country, and some species of native grapes are of an excellent quality. The species of foreign grapes, which yield some of the best wines in Europe, are introduced and thrive well in the mid

dle and even in some parts of the northern region of the United States; but the making of wine is yet contued to a few places.

SECTION XVII.

ANIMALS OF THE UNITED STATES.

Of Native Animals.

THE following quadrupeds are natives of the United States, the buffalo, moose, elk, bear, deer, wolf, wild eat or lynx, panther, catamount, wolverin, fox, beaver, otter, martin, raccoon, hare, rabit, muskrat or musquash, wrasel, squirrel, of several kinds, one kind of rat opossum, skunk, mink, woodchuck, ermine, seal, mole, field mouse, porcupine. Many of these animals, fitted to live only in the forest, retire westward as cultivation proceeds in that direction, and are no longer seen near the Atlantic

Of the Mammoth. On the Wallkill in the state of New-York; near the salt-licks in Kentucky; and in other parts of America have been found the bones of some huge animal now extinct It is supposed by some to have been of the elephant species, and has obtained the appellation of Mammoth. A skeleton of this animal, nearly complete, may be seen in the Museum at Philadelphia. Its size is that of the largest species of elephant, and a tall man may walk upright under its belly. This beast must have fed himself by means of a proboscis, as the neck is not long enough to reach the earth, when standing: but the form of the teeth, and jaws, and especially the spiral form and position of its tusks, make it certain that the animal was different from any which is now known to exist.

Of Domestic Animals. The animals kept by man for use, are derived from such as were imported; such as the horse, cattle of all kinds, sheep, asses, goats, dogs, cats, swine. All these thrive well in the United

States. The mountainous districts of the southern states, and all parts of the northern furnish oxen and cows of the largest and best kind. The sheep are inferior to the best in Europe. Elegant horses of English breed, are raised, chicily in the middle and southern states, and a race of Dutch horses, very large and excellent for draft, in Pennsylvania. In New-England and Canada, the horses are smaller but very hardy and

serviceable.

Of Wild Fowls. The wild fowls of the United States are too numerous to be specified. Some of the most remarkable are, the eagle, falcon, hawks, of various sorts, herons, owls, swans, crows, turkies, geese, ducks of many kinds, pelicans, brants, pigeons, partridges, quails, woodcocks, woodpeckers of various sorts, swallows, martins, buzzards, blackbirds, robbins, larks, blue birds, rens, sparrows, gulls, plovers, snipes, cranes and storks.

Of Domestic Fowls. The domestic fowls are of foreign origin, as the goose, duck, pigeons, and dunghill fowls. They thrive in all parts of this country. The wild goose and turkey may be tamed, but the turkey, which grows to the weight of thirty pounds or more when wild, degenerates by domestication

Of Birds of Passage. Some species of birds leave the cold regions in autumn, and visit the more southern climes. Wild geese and pigeons, and some kinds of ducks are of this sort. Many kinds of fowls are so hardy as to remain, and fly about in the severity of ordinary winters, without danger, as the crow, the partridge, quail and snowbird. But in very hard winters, these birds are known to perish in great numbers. The swallow, about the last week in August, seeks a shelter in ponds, rivers and marshes, and remains torpid till spring. But most kinds of birds retreat to the cavities of hollow trees, and like places.

Of Fishes. The sea and rivers in the United States, abound with an immense variety of fish, many of them of the most useful kind. Whales are often caught near the coast. Cedfish are taken on the shores of the northern region, and on the banks of Newfoundland, in

such abundance, as to form a large article of our exports. Holibut, haddock, mullet, whiting, plaice, mackarel, bass, tetaug or blackfish, sheeps head, and a great variety of small fish, fill our markets at most seasons of the year. Alewives are caught in vast numbers for foreign markets, and menhaden or white fish, for manuring land; and our rivers abound with sturgeon.

Of Shad and Salmon. In April and May the rivers are stocked with shad in immense numbers, and furnish the inhabitants with no small part of their food. The salmon, in the same months, frequent the rivers from the north to the Connecticut, in which they are taken in great numbers. But that fish is never found in rivers which discharge into the Atlantic westward of the Connecticut. The small streams abound with trout, roach, perch and eels, and the lakes, with their tributary streams, are well supplied with excellent fish, especially with the pike and salmon trout of a large

size.

Of Shell Fish. Oysters of the best kinds cover the shores of the United States. Lobsters of the largest kind abound in many places. Crabs, shrimps, muscles, and clams of various species are found in our harbours and creeks; and we are occasionally favoured with turtle from the more southern climes. No country can boast of a richer profusion of food, constantly furnished from the hills, the forest, and the bosom of the deep!

Of Amphibious Animals. Our swamps and ponds abound with frogs, one species of which called a buli frog, is very large. The tortoise or turtle is common to all parts of America. Animals of the lizard kind are numerous; and the aligator or crocodile, the largest of that species, is found in the rivers of the south

ern states.

Of Serpents. The principal species of these animals are the rattle snake, the black snake of several kinds, the viper, the adder of several sorts, one of which is amphibious, and another frequents houses, the green and striped snakes. The rattle snake has a fatal poi· son in a bag, at the root of his large teeth, which when he bites is conveyed by a small opening through the VOL. II.

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