484 



otherwise, it will not, from its being 

 open to the sun, whose power over the 4 

 land is such, as to penetrate much deeper 

 than the surface, or the roots of the grass. 

 The heat is frequently so great that, if 

 sand get into your shoes, it will compel 

 you to take them off, otherwise your toes 

 will become excoriated. By working, 

 ploughing, harrowing, sowing, &c. I have 

 had my feet in that state, and which the 

 working-people call the cow-itch. I sup- 

 pose the sun's intense heat is the reason why 

 English grasses will not thrive in Ame- 

 rica : and I have planted some Indian corn 

 since I landed in England ; but none of 

 it has prospered. Then the winter in 

 America is very severe, and sets in so sud- 

 denly, as to find those plants in a very por- 

 ous state ; consequently the cold penetrates 

 so quickly into them that they are killed. 

 Indeed the effect of extremes is as great 

 as it would be to any plant reared in a hot- 

 house being taken, in its warm state, and 

 exposed to the most severe frost. I do not 



