On the Power of Habit in Vegetables. 69 



gree of heat. It must also be remarked, though not 

 in so great a degree, by the inhabitants of the nor- 

 thern, when they remove to the southern, states. 



We may apply these observations to some public 

 advantage. It is said, that the Virginians have often 

 attempted to cultivate Rice, but that it never came 

 to perfection ; because their summers are shorter 

 than, and not so warm as, those of Carolina and Geor- 

 gia, from which parts of the continent, there can be 

 no doubt, they had their seed-rice, which grain re- 

 quires all the long and warm summers of these last- 

 mentioned states to bring it to maturity. But as 

 vegetables, in a course of time, become capable of 

 bearing colder climates than their native ones, this is 

 one of the means which might be used to habituate 

 the Rice to Virginia. But I have, for some years, 

 thought of a more expeditious means, which, there 

 can be little doubt, would succeed : this is to bring 

 the seed-rice from the northern parts of Europe, 

 where it comes to perfection. 



Rice is the principal grain about Milan, in Italy; 

 and it grows in Savoy, as I was informed by a gen- 

 tleman (who was a native of the country), of whom I 

 inquired, with a view to this very subject. You like- 

 wise mentioned, to-day, that it grows in some parts 

 of Germany. (See Note 2.) 



To import Rice for seed, it should be brought 

 from the farthest northern situation in which it arrives 

 at perfection. And as all these places, just men- 



