424 FARMER'S ASSISTANT. 



the less to be doubted, from a case mentioned by Mr Genet, 

 of his successful use of the milk of a Cow, in regenerating 

 a decayed imported Merino R tm ; the animal being; entirely 

 free from the scab, during all the time he was fed on milk; 

 while almost all the Sheep, which came from Spain with 

 him, were subject to ihat disorder. 



WILD-RICE (A-oena Fatuor.) This plant which has 

 commonly buen called wild-rice, by the English, and Folle- 

 avoine, by the French, is found in the bays, and oiher 

 suitable places, bordering all the large Western Lakes, 

 and other waters in that direction, almost as tar north as 

 Hudson's Bay. It has not been found farther south than 

 about the thirty-ninth degree of latitude; though no doubt 

 it may be cultivated in much milder climates. It grows on 

 lands naturally covered with water, to the depth of from 

 two to seven feet ; it requires a rich or muddy bottom, and 

 will not grow in that which is sandy. Ii is believed that it 

 may be cultivated to advantage in many situations where it 

 does not naturally grow, and that its culture would be found 

 very advantageous; as it grows in situations where no other- 

 plant of any essential value is at present grown in this 

 Country. We have seen it growing abundantly in a part 

 of the bay of LUtellodus, on Lake Ontario. It rises some 

 height above the water; and in order to protect it from the 

 water fowls, which feed on it, the practice of the Indians 

 is to go, in their canoes, amongst it, and tie it in bunches, 

 about the time the grains have formed ; in which situation 

 it stands till ripe ; when they gather it, by bending the 

 bunches over the sides of the canoe, and beating out the 

 grain with sticks; in which way they will soon fill a vessel 

 of this description. When hulled, which we believe may 

 be done in a manner similar to that of rice, it is said to be 

 as nutricious as that grain, and as well tasied. 



How far this species of the Avena may be successfully 

 cultivated, in the manner that rice is raised in more 

 southerly climates, remains yet to be ascertained by experi- 

 ments. We are, however, impressed with the belief that it 

 may be found a substitute for rice, and cultivated in all the 

 northerly parts of this Country, where lands are naturally 

 covered with water to a suitable d?pth, or where they can 

 be thus covered in an artificial manner. 



WILLOW (Salix.) There are varieties of this tree, 

 though not many that were found in this Country, Tne 

 weeping-willow and some other kinds are imported. 



Some kinds of this tree grow so rapidly, as to be valuable 

 to plant for fuel. The twigs of one kind are used for 

 making baskets, Sec. Other kinds are good for making 



