of North Carolina. 15 



nothing but Weeds. And I must confess, when some of the 

 Planters enquired of me how we managed the Land in Ire- 

 land, and what Labour and Expence we were at in ordering 

 them to the best Advantage, it seemed very surprising to 

 them how we could live, and especially when I told him, that 

 we paid from three Shillings to four or five Pounds per Acre 

 (besides many heavy Taxes) which Relation they could by no 

 means give Credit to, but looked upon what I said as meer 

 Romances or Tales, to impose upon their Credulity. 



The Rye thrives very well here, but they having such 

 Plenty of Maiz, in this Province, they little regard or value 

 it, and especially by Reason of the Blackness of the Bread it 

 makes. 



The Barley does much better here than may reasonable be 

 expected from their Management of it, that Grain requiring 

 the Ground to be well Wrought, with repeated Blowings to 

 make it Mellow, which their general Way of breaking with 

 Koes will never perform; though I have seen extraordinary 

 Barley produced in North Carolina, after that manner, or 

 with one Plowing only. 



Oats does well here, but the vast Plenty of other Grain 

 prevents their propagating of it in many Places, so that it is 

 not common in these Parts of America at present. 



The Rice, whereof there are several Sorts, some Bearded, 

 others not, beside the White and the Red, but the White is 

 best. The Rice of Carolina is esteemed as good as any 

 brought to Europe, and is of a prodigious Increase, yielding 

 from eight Hundred to a Thousand for one Measure that is 

 sown. It grows best in their Wet and wild Land, that hath 

 not been cultivated or broken up before. The Indian-Corn 

 or Maize is most commonly Planted with the Hoe, and proves 



the 



