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On the Cultivation of the Barilla Plants in the United 

 States ; by Joseph Correa de Serra^ F, R, S, Hono- 

 rary Member of the Philadelphia Society for pro- 

 moting Agriculture, 



Read June 14, 1814. 



Philadelphia May 23, 1814. 



Sir^ 



Considering on the subject of our last conversation, 

 I am come to the persuasion, that this is the proper 

 epoch for introducing the cultivation of Barilla in the 

 United States. You are arrived at the period of being 

 no more a merely agricultural nation, possessing only 

 the most necessary arts. Circumstances, and the en- 

 terprising spirit of your people, have thrown the na- 

 tion in the manufacturing career. Glass houses have 

 already been successfully established in many parts, 

 and more will undoubtedly be established. The ba- 

 rilla, you could before this, cultivate only for exporta- 

 tion, and you had more important articles to attend 

 to ; but now its importation from Europe would be re- 

 quired, and its price, enhanced by freights, expenses, 

 merchant's profits, &c. would be an obstacle to the 

 arts to which it is necessary, and embarrass, at least, 

 their progress amongst you. This culture I have from 

 observation, the certainty will be successful in your 

 country, since the most valuable of the different plants 

 from which the carbonate of soda is extracted, grow 

 spontaneously in the territory of the United States. The 

 salsola kali I have found without any particular re- 



