394 PRODUCTIONS. 



both sides of the Alleghanies, inflammatory complaints, ari 

 sing from sudden transitions of temperature, are common. 

 There is no reason, however, to imagine this part of America 

 more unhealthy than the Canadas, unless the prevalence of 

 north-east winds in the east, and the want of cultivation in 

 the west, are more unfavourable than a severe and steady 

 winter. 



The agricultural productions are the same as what have 

 been noticed as the growth of the Canadas. A portion of 

 this country may, however, be termed the region of Indian 

 corn, which grows with uncommon luxuriance, and is one of 

 the most important plants in American farming. Mr John 

 Taylor of Virginia called it the &quot;meal, meadow, and manure&quot; 

 of the farm, and it well merits his emphatic description. It 

 is used as human food in a variety of forms ; in maintaining 

 and fattening animals during winter it far surpasses every 

 agricultural product, and affords a great quantity of materials 

 for manure. When soil and climate are adapted to its growth, 

 it furnishes more nourishment for man and beast on a given 

 space, and with less labour, than any other plant. It is the 

 only means of fattening animals during winter in remote parts 

 of the country, and, under present circumstances, no district 

 which I visited in course of my tour can become eminent in 

 breeding and fattening live stock, which is not congenial to 

 the growth of Indian corn. It does not seem to be cultivated 

 with success beyond 43 north latitude, and an agricultural 

 emigrant, who values the necessaries of life, ought only to 

 settle where this plant can be successfully grown. 



Indian corn seems to differ from most other agricultural 

 plants, by growing vigorously for a succession of years on 

 certain soils without an application of manure. There is much 

 evidence to establish this fact in the Western United States, 

 and amongst the Indians in Upper Canada. I saw it grow 

 ing luxuriantly on soft prairie soil in Ohio, which farmers 

 assured me could not produce a wheat crop without an appli 

 cation of manure. It is this peculiarity of Indian corn which 

 has given rise to some exaggerated accounts of the fertility of 

 American soil, by producing so many crops without manure. 

 In some parts of the country, Indian -corn seems to be like an 



