SOIL OF THE MOUNTAIN. 107 



cereals, the ordinary food of men and animals. Of this 

 class a number seem to have an obvious affinity for or adap- 

 tation to the soil of the mountain ranges, as the oats, (Avena 

 satwa;) timothy, (Phleum pratense;) barley, (Hordeum 

 vulgare;) etc. 



The proper bread cereals, wheat, ( Triticum vulgdre,) and 

 rye, (Secale cereale,) are grown with facility, especially 

 among the coal-bearing rocks in the basins or elevated 

 valleys, where limestone is found mingled with slates and 

 shales. In the arenaceous soils of the heights, the crops of 

 these grains are thin. The red clover ( Trifolium pratense) 

 is found growing with the grasses ; but, as this plant con- 

 tains lime, potash, soda, phosphoric acid, sulphuric acid, 

 chlorine, silica, magnesia, and peroxide of iron, soils entirely 

 destitute of these elements, especially lime and potash, are 

 not well adapted to its growth. 



That superb and kingly grass, the Zea Mays, or Indian 

 corn, does not flourish very well in the soils of the moun- 

 tain. One or two varieties sometimes ripen well, but the sea- 

 sons are too short for all those generally cultivated to attain 

 perfection, some of them being invariably caught by the 

 f rost before being fully matured. * 



The soil of many parts of this region seems particularly 

 adapted to the growth of a number of indigenous and intro- 

 duced pasture-grasses. It is to be deplored that this sub- 

 ject, and the growing of stock adapted to such regions, has 

 not as yet received the attention which it merits from the 



* It may not be amiss to notice another plant which seems to pos- 

 sess a strong attraction to the soil of the mountain, viz. the Solanum 

 tuberosum, commonly called potato. 



Notwithstanding the story of the botanists, that this plant was 

 originally native or indigenous to Peru, South America, many in- 

 habitants of certain districts of the mountain are fully and solemnly 

 impressed with the conviction that it belongs to those particular re- 

 gions from the Creation, having appeared there first, a primordial 

 gift of love from the supernals to a heaven-favored race, which was 

 finally to occupy that promised land. 



