36 PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY 



cus esculefitus,) tlie tomato {Solammi Lycojjersicuni) the egg- 

 plant {S. inelongena) and the salsafy, sometimes called oyster 

 plant from its peculiar flavour when fried, not unlike that of 

 fried oysters, it is the Tragopagon porrifolhis of botanists. 

 It has been found also that the fig-tree (Ficus carica) can with 

 proper attention be made to thrive and bear abundantly; and 

 the grape in its numerous varieties is cultivated in the city 

 and around it with complete success. 



In the upper parts of the necks that form the lower portions 

 of Baltimore county, the soil is gravelly and sandy, and its 

 best timber is principally replaced by chestnut; but midway 

 between the heads of the creeks and the river shore, there is a 

 zone of rich land covered by a fine growth of oaks, hickory 

 and the American elm (Ulmus Amej^icana,) after which the 

 necks terminate either in a light sandy soil occasionally 

 shaded by pines, or in stiff clays that furnish good wheat 

 lands. The same characters belong to the necks of Harford 

 county, with this exception that the clayey levels are over- 

 grown with large white oaks. 



' The rivers that form these necks are principally near their 

 mouth, and the littoral waters of the Chesapeake bay in this 

 direction, produce aquatic plants that seem peculiarly grateful 

 to the wild ducks. It is here accordingly that this wild fowl 

 assembles at the approach of winter, in numerous flocks, 

 comprising several species, among which the most esteemed 

 for the delicacy of their flesh, is the canvass-back duck (Fuli- 

 gula Valisneria) mid the led-headed duck, (Fuligula fe?'i?ia.) 

 The former has received its specific name from the supposi- 

 tion that it feeds entirely upon the Valisneria Americana, but 

 those who are well acquainted with the habits of the bird, 

 have satisfied themselves that although it certainly prefers this 

 kind of food, it freely partakes of others ; its principal advan- 

 tage lying in its superior strength, which enables it to dive 

 deeper and to feed upon the more tender parts of the various 

 plants that it succeeds in bringing up from beneath the waters; 

 whilst its less active associates are contented to feed upon 

 what it rejects, compelled even sometimes to have recourse to 

 fish and muscles that entirely destroy their flavour. 



The preceding account embraces the physical geography 

 of the tide water coiuitry, comprising about two thirds of the 



