A Botanical and Economic Study. 19 1 



grown as the major crop, and the other plants-subordinated as 

 minor crops. In the growth of maize as a major crop, for 

 instance, in any locality, the minor crops should be associated 

 with each other and with maize, so as to permit of the largest 

 production of maize, and, at the same time, prevent rapid soil 

 exhaustion. The major crop, again, in the New England 

 States, tor example, should be associated with the major crop 

 in the Central States, and that with the major crop of the 

 Southern States, to constitute a national system of rotation. 

 The national rotation will permit the best use of the whole 

 country, and will make it an agricultural unit. 



A partial division of labor in agriculture will be feasible, 

 for the farmer becomes a specialist in the growth of that 

 plant for which his region is especially adapted. He will 

 study, more scientifically, the physiological requirements of 

 his major crop, and be able better to solve the numerous 

 questions of practice which constantly arise. It will be 

 necessary, however, for the central government to study the 

 especial adaptability of the physiographical sections of the 

 United States before an agricultural subdivision of the country 

 can be scientifically made. These regions, at the present 

 time, can be designated only roughly. 



Thus the physical conditions of Florida make it plain that 

 this peninsula is to develop its life on the lines of agriculture 

 and marine industries. The agriculture is destined to be of a 

 peculiar sort, gardening and fruit-growing rather than ordinary 

 field tillage. Such tropical and sub-tropical fruits as the orange, 

 the lemon, the mango, the sapodilla and tender vegetables, 

 are easily raised, and assure the agricultural position of the 

 district. The low-lying portion of the Gulf States, an old sea 

 bottom, which has been elevated recently above the ocean, 

 contains soil of only moderate fertility, but well suited to 

 the great staple, cotton ; rice can be grown to advantage 

 along the river bottoms. The Blue Grass region of Ken- 

 tucky and Tennessee lies in the range of the Silurian lime- 

 stones, and the soil possesses great fertility. This region, 

 which grows very nutritive grasses, will be given up to 

 stock raising. The northern Central States, Ohio, Indiana, 



