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principles of husbandry, occasions some 

 difficulties, which seem best overcome by 

 increasing the number of fields. Our hus- 

 bandmen are so used to maize, that scarce- 

 ly any appear disposed to give up the cul- 

 ture of it for productions which are much 

 milder, in their effects on land. It is the 

 best of corns. In food to man it is remark- 

 ably wholesome, and admits of the greatest 

 variety in its preparation for the stomach. 

 It is food for most animals, and yields a 

 great increase. Seasons or plagues, that 

 injure other corns, do not affect maize. 

 In cultivating it, the soil is cleaned and 

 lightened, preparative to other crops ; but 

 it is far inferior to preparations by mild or 

 ameliorating shading crops, as maize cul- 

 ture exposes the soil, naked, to exhalation 

 and the washing away of the soil, more or 

 less by every sudden and heavy rain. Soils 

 liable to be washed away may have other 

 crops applied to them — small corns, &c. 



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