On the Power of Habit in Vegetables. 73 



Note 3. Page 70. It is a curious fact, which is 

 now almost forgotten, that Rice was once cultivated, 

 with sonic success, in the neighbourhood of Salem, 

 in New-Jersey, nearly in latitude 39°. 40 '. This was 

 towards the latter end of the seventeenth century. 

 Why the cultivation of the vegetable was laid aside, 

 I have not learned ; in all probability, it was because 

 it was found, that the plant would not always ripen 

 its seed, before the setting in of the severe frosts. 

 But if, one hundred years ago, the Rice sometimes 

 brought its seed to perfection, in the tract of country 

 which I have mentioned, it would doubtless, by the 

 present time, have " learned" to ripen it much more 

 frequently ; and this too even admitting (which I do 

 admit), that no very essential change has taken place 

 in the temperature of the climates of the Atlantic 

 states. 



This mode of reasoning may afford some ray of 

 hope to the inhabitants of those parts of Virginia, 

 who, at this time, cultivate small quantities of Cotton, 

 for their own family consumption, but who entertain 

 a fear, that the early frosts of their climate will, for ever, 

 prevent them from cultivating this valuable vegetable, 

 upon a more enlarged scale. I think it very probable, 

 that Cotton will, at some future period, be cultivated, 

 with success, at least as far to the northward, on the At- 

 lantic side of the United-States, as the northern boun- 

 dary of Virginia. (See Elements of Botany, &c. Part 

 III. page 98.) How much further than this it may 

 be cultivated, time must determine. 



