AGRICULTURE EAST OF THE ALLEGHANY MOUNTAINS. 395 



indigenous plant, and its growth for a succession of years is 

 perhaps no greater test of fertility of soil than grass is in 

 Britain. 



The soil on the eastern side of the Alleghanies is generally 

 of an inferior description, with exception of the lands on the 

 banks of rivers. The cleared lands have been long cropped 

 under the robbing system, and are far from being productive. 

 The whole of the land that is worth occupying is owned by 

 private individuals, although a great portion of it is covered 

 with forest ; and I was frequently told, that in all situations 

 near a village, or which had ready access to water-carriage, 

 forest land was more valuable than what had been cleared, 

 fuel having became so dear of late years. Much of the land 

 covered with wood is not worth cultivating, and should the 

 forest be removed for fuel, it is likely to remain in pasturage 

 or be suffered to produce trees again. The price of farms 

 varies from L.5 to L.30 sterling per acre, according to 

 quality of soil, buildings, and situation. Labour can at all 

 times be had, and every description of produce finds a ready 

 market. Manures are chiefly employed in growing vege 

 tables, and can be bought from the stablers of New York at 

 7d. sterling a cart-load, similar in shape and size to the carts 

 used in Scotland. Market gardening is the most profitable 

 department of farming, and the growing of grass ranks 

 next. 



Notwithstanding the good markets, command of labour, 

 and low price of manure, the cultivation of grain in this part 

 of the country is attended with little profit, which circum 

 stance, joined to a grass crop being more lucrative, illustrates 

 the pa^-ts nature and man perform in the production of farm 

 produce which has been so often alluded to. And a Briton 

 who has been accustomed to pay a high rent will be very 

 apt to overlook, on first reaching America, many circumstances 

 affecting the profits of farming. 



Land which has been impoverished by a long succession 

 of crops, under the robbing system, will not yield much grain 

 without a plentiful supply of manure, which the rate of labour 

 may frequently prevent being applied without incurring loss. 

 Suppose an acre of wheat to yield with a moderate applica- 



