357 



Rice is grown in the southern parts of 

 America, and is said to be profitable. The 

 culture is much the same as that of garden 

 peas. Mr. Pinkney, a member of congress, 

 gave me information how to raise it ; and 

 I had some thoughts of making the trial : 

 but I found it impracticable on my land, 

 and in the climate where I lived ; the win- 

 ter season continuing too long, and the 

 weather being too variable. The south 

 part of America is more like the West 

 Indies, and the weather more steady. 



Flax is raised in the same manner as in 

 England. It grows shorter in general, on 

 account of the poor soil. Instead of rating 

 it, as is the common practice in Britain, 

 the process they have adopted is termed 

 rotting, by laying it on the ground, to make 

 the outer skin divide from the bun ; which 

 causes it to rot in some parts before it divides 

 from the bun in others, and the line is in 

 consequence very tender. This is one reason 

 why the boots and shoes are so bad, as they 

 use line in the making of those articles. 



