434 On Barilla. 



It would be worth while to introduce the culture of 

 this plant into the United States, and to procure from 

 Rome not only the seed, but practical details about its 

 culture and profits, in order that the first trials that 

 should be here made of it, may have no chance of mis- 

 carriage. It is a general effect of an unsuccessful at- 

 tempt at any new thing, let it be ever so useful, to re- 

 tard for a long while its introduction. 



Joseph Correa de Serra. 

 Hon. Richard Peters, Esq, 



NOTE. 



I have been informed, that, in Rhode Island, they use the sea 

 weeds, with great success, on their lands. Commonly as green 

 manures, often dried and burnt. No doubt the soda or mineral aU 

 kali, in these plants is the operative principle : though, in addition, 

 the putrified vegetable is highly efficacious. The soda exists in 

 salt sedge, or marsh grass, much employed on the coasts or shores 

 of New Jersey ; either as a top dressing, or ploughed in. It would 

 be well to gain information respecting this mode of applying the 

 weeds or plants. Possibly extracting the alkali^ when it is known 

 that barilla plants are in plenty, may become a business highly con- 

 ducive to the interests both of agriculture and manufactures. R. P. 



