THB CEREALIA. 27 



measures for one measure of seed. In similar lo- 

 calities, and with land of equal quality, but where 

 no opportunity has been provided for watering the 

 fields, the annual return does not exceed more than 

 fifteen or twenty for one. 



Maize is also very extensively cultivated in Mexico; 

 and, from the genial nature of the climate, and the 

 general fertility of the soil, the returns which it yields 

 to the farmer are most abundant. Humboldt in- 

 forms us that in the valley of Mexico the maize har- 

 vest yields two hundred for one. The Indians and 

 Mestizoes, who form a large proportion of the inha- 

 bitants of the republic, feed on maize and manihot 

 (cassava), the consumption of wheat being princi- 

 pally confined to the white inhabitants of the towns. 



In the temperate and polar districts of the southern 

 hemisphere, the order of cultivation is very similar 

 to that pursued in similar latitudes and elevations 

 north of the tropics. In America wheat is com- 

 monly found in the southern provinces of Brazil, in 

 Buenos Ay res, and in Chili. The same grain pre- 

 dominates at the Cape of Good Hope, the flour which 

 it yields being of beautiful quality, and accompanied 

 by less than the usual proportion of bran. In Austra- 

 lia wheat also forms the principal object of cultivation 

 on the part of the settlers ; but, in the southernmost 

 portions of that vast island which, perhaps, it were 

 more correct to call a continent and in Van Die- 

 men's Land, barley and rye are likewise to be 

 found. 



