24 VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES. 



regulations of the governments, whose revenues 

 depend upon the produce of the soil. 



It remains to trace the distribution of the Cerealia 

 throughout America. The highest limit for the cul- 

 tivation of these plants on that vast continent is in the 

 more southern portion of the Russian possessions, 

 situated between 57 and 58 of north latitude, where 

 barley and rye are brought to maturity. On the more 

 eastern coast of America, the same cultivation rarely 

 succeeds higher than 50 or 51. 



In the United States, wheat and rye grow as in 

 the more temperate regions in Europe ; and it is 

 perhaps owing to faulty methods of tillage, occasioned 

 by the great abundance of land and the dearness of 

 labour, that the produce bears a small proportion 

 when compared with that obtained from cultivating 

 the same extent of land in Europe. Great improve- 

 ments in this respect have already been introduced ; 

 and when population shall be found, as in older settled 

 countries, pressing against the means of subsistence, 

 there is no reason why the lands should not be made 

 as productive generally, as they are in the carefully- 

 cultivated districts of this country. Maize is very 

 extensively raised in the United States, and in the 

 southern parts of the Union rice is also very largely 

 cultivated. 



Canada produces wheat in sufficient abundance to 

 supply its own population, and to make large occa- 

 sional shipments to the mother-country, where this 

 produce is received upon more advantageous terms 

 as regards the duty payable on importation, than 

 wheat the produce of any part of the continent of 

 Europe. In proportion as the lands of Canada are 

 cleared of their timber, we may expect that a larger 

 amount of grain will be spared by that province for 

 consumption in Europe ; unless the tide of emigration 



