Influence of Climate on the Fruilfulness of Plants. 37 



than any imported into Europe from the Indies. The inhabitants 

 of the East Indies derive their subsistence almost exclusively from 

 rice ,• they must be supposed, therefore, to cultivate it with all 

 skill and care, and the best contrivances for irrigation. Such is, 

 hovi^ever, the forcing nature of their climate, that the plant 

 grows too rapidly, and dries away before the grain be properly 

 filled. Indian corn, or maize, if not a tropical plant, was origi- 

 nally found near the tropics ; and although it now occupies a wide 

 range, it produces the heaviest crops near the northern limit of 

 its range. In the West Indies it rises 30 feet in height ; but with 

 all that gigantic size, it produces only a few grains on the bot- 

 tom of a spungy cob, and is counted on only as rough proven- 

 der. In the southern part of the United States, it reaches a 

 height of 15 feet, and will produce 30 bushels to the acre ; in the 

 rich lands of Kentucky and the middle states it produces 50 or 60 

 bushels to the acre ; but in New York and New England, agri- 

 cultural societies have actually awarded premiums for 150 bushels 

 to the acre, collected from stalks only seven (eti high. The heats 

 of a southern sun develope the juices of this plant too quickly. 

 They run into culm and blade, to the neglect of the seed, and 

 dry away before fructification becomes complete. 



Wheat is a more certain crop in New York, the northern part 

 of Pennsylvania and Ohio, and in the Baltic regions of Europe, 

 than in the south either of Europe or America. In the north, 

 snows accumulate, and not only protect it from the winter colds, 

 but from the weavil, Hessian fly, and other insects that invade 

 it ; and in the spring it is not forced too rapidly into head, with- 

 out time to mature fully, and concoct its farina. 



A cold climate also aids the manufacturing of flour, preserving 

 it from acidity, and enables us to keep it long, either for a good 

 market, or to meet scarcities and emergencies. Oats grow in 

 almost every country ; but it is in northern regions only, or very 

 moist or elevated tracts, that they fill with farina suitable for 

 human sustenance. Rye, barley, buckwheat, millet, and other 

 culmiferous plants, might be adduced to illustrate the above prin- 

 ciple ; for all their habits require a more northern latitude than 

 is necessary to their mere growth. 



The grasses are proverbially in perfection only in northern and 

 cool regions, although they will grow every where. It is in the 

 north alone that we raise animals from meadows, and are enabled 



