OF NORTH CAROLINA. 120 



of breaking the earth with hoes, can, by no means 

 perform, though in many places we have a light, 

 rich, deep, black mould, which is the particular 

 soil in which barley best thrives. 



The naked oats thrive extraordinary well; and 

 the other would prove a very bold grain ; but the 

 plenty of other grains makes them not much cov- 

 eted. 



The Indian corn, or niaiz, proves the most use- 

 ful grain in the world ; and had it not been for the 

 fruitfulness of this species, it would have proved 

 very difficult to have settled some of the planta- 

 tions in America. It is very nourishing, whether 

 in bread, sodden, or otherwise ; and those poor 

 Christian servants in Virginia, Maryland, and the 

 other northerly plantations that have been forced 

 to live wholly upon it, do manifestly prove that it 

 is the most nourishing grain for a ma.n to subsist 

 on, without any other victuals. And this assertion 

 is made good by the negro slaves, who, in many 

 places eat nothing but this indian corn and salt. 

 Pigs and poultry fed with this grain, eat the sweet- 

 est of all others. It refuses no ground, unless the 

 barren sands, and when planted in good ground, 

 will repay the planter, seven or eight hundred 

 fold ; besides the stalks bruised and boiled, make 

 very pleasant beer, being sweet like the sugar 

 cane. 



There are several sorts of rice, some bearded, 

 others not, besides the red and the white , but the 

 white rice is the best. Yet there is a sort of per- 



B6 



