176 



crties of soils and manures, may enable him greatly to modify tlie native 

 qualities of different soils, yet he Avill find, upon almost every farm, some 

 soils upon which he would never inflict some particular crops ; and in all 

 liis arrangements, he will study to deviate as little as possible from 

 natural adaptation ; because he knows that by doing otherwise, he would 

 be counteracting those powers, Avhich nature designed for his aid. 

 , As our observations take a wider range, and whilst the minute diver- 

 sities just noticed, every where abound, we find particular districts 

 remarkably adapted to the growth of particular products ; as "Weathers- 

 field, Ct., for onions; Long Island, for melons; the Genesee Valley, for 

 vheat ; and a few towns in Central New York, for hops ; and all on 

 g-CCQunt of the peculiarity of the soil. 



. Extending our observations still further, we find varieties of seasons, 

 and varieties of climate, with the same adaptation of products to each, 

 which yve find in respect to diversities of soil, except that in the latter 

 the laws -of nature are more imperative. A greater mistake could scarcely 

 liave been made in regard to the economy of our planet, than that re- 

 ■corded by Milton, when, in portraying the curse inflicted upon man for 

 iiis trangression, he says : 



" Some say he bid his angels turn askance 

 The poles of earth, twice ten degrees and more, 

 From the sun's axle ; they with labor pushed 

 Oblique the centric globe ; some say the sun 

 Was bid turn reins from the equatorial road 

 Lilie distant breadth to Taurus and the seven 

 Atlantic sisters, and the Spartan Twins, 

 Up to the tropic Crab ; thence down amain 

 By Leo, and the Virgin, and the Scales, 

 As deep as Capricorn ; to bring in change 

 Of season to each clime ; else had the spring 

 Perpetual smiled on earth ■with verdant flowers, 

 Equal in days and nights, except to those 

 Beyond the polar circle ; to them, day 

 Had unbenighted shone, while the low sun, 

 To recompense his distance in their sight 

 Had rounded still the horizon, and not known 

 j?. Xor east nor west, winch had forbid the snow 



From cold Estotalaud, and south as far 

 Beneath Magellan. At that tasted fruit 

 The sun, as from Thyestian banquet turn'd 

 His course intended ; else how had the world 

 Inhabited, though sinless, more than now 

 Avoided pinching cold and scorching heat ?" 



