248 CULTIVATED VEGETABLES. 



" Sugar," says Dr. Rush, affords the great- 

 est quantity of nourishment in less quantity 

 of matter of any substance in nature : of 

 course it may be preserved in less room in 

 our houses, and may be consumed in less time, 

 than more bulky and less nourishing aliments. 

 It has this peculiar advantage over most 

 kinds of aliment, that it is not liable to have 

 its nutritious qualities affected by time or the 

 weather ; hence it is preferred by the Indians 

 in their excursions from home. They mix a 

 certain quantity of maple sugar with an equal 

 quantity of Indian corn, dried and powdered 

 in its milky state. This mixture is packed 

 in little baskets, which are frequently wetted, 

 in travelling, without injuring the sugar. A 

 few spoonfuls of it mixed with half a pint of 

 spring water, afford them a pleasant and 

 strengthening meal. 



From the degree of strength and nourish- 

 ment which are conveyed into animal bodies 

 by a small bulk of sugar, it might probably 

 be given to horses with great advantage, 

 when they are used in places or under cir- 

 cumstances which make it difficult or expen- 

 sive to support them with more bulky or 

 weighty aliment. A pound of sugar, with 

 grass or hay, has supported the strength and 



