Book I. AGRICULTURE IN NORTH AMERICA. 1&1 



11SS. The breeding of animals was not neglected by the Mexicans: though there were 

 no sheep, they bred up innumerable species of animals unknown in Europe. Bullock 

 ( Travels, 1824) informs us, that they are very curious in rearing and feeding swine ; and 

 that an essential requisite in a Mexican swineherd is an agreeable voice ; in order that 

 he may sing or charm the animals into peace when they quarrel and fight, and lull them 

 to sleep at proper times to promote their fatting. Wind and sounds of every kind have 

 been long known to have a powerful effect on this genus of animals. Private persons 

 brought up techichis (quadrupeds similar to little dogs), turkeys, quails, geese, ducks 

 and other kinds of fowl ; in the territories of the lords were bred fish, deer, rabbits, and 

 a variety of birds ; and at the royal residences, almost all the species of quadrupeds and 

 winged animals of those countries, and a prodigious number of water animals and 

 reptiles. We may say that in this kind of magnificence Montezuma II. surpassed all 

 the kings of the world, and that there never has been a nalion equal in skill to the 

 Mexicans in the care of so many different species of animals, which had so much know- 

 ledge of their dispositions, of the food which was most proper for each, and of all the 

 means necessary for their preservation and increase. 



1189. The Mexican cochineal, so greatly valued in Europe on account of its dyes of scarlet and crimson, 

 demands a great deal more care from the breeder than is necessary for the silkworm. Rain, cold, and 

 strong winds destroy it ; birds, mice, and worms persecute it furiously, and devour it : hence it is neces- 

 sary to keep the rows of Opuntia, or nopal, where those insects are bred, always clean ; to attend constantly 

 to drive away the birds, which are destructive to them; to make nests of hay for them among the 

 Opuntia, by the juice of which thevare nourished; and when the season of rain approaches, to raise'them 

 with a part of the plants, and guard them in houses. Before the females are delivered they cast their 

 skin, to obtain which spoil, the breeders make use of the tail of the rabbit, brushing most gently with it 

 that they may not detach the insects from the plants, or do them any hurt. On every lobe they make three 

 nests, and in every nest they lay about fifteen cochineals. Every year they make three gatherings, reserv- 

 ing, however, each time, a certain number for the future gehe'ration ; but the last gathering is least 

 valued, the cochineals being smaller then, and mixed with the prickles of the Opuntia. They kill the 

 cochineal most commonly with hot water. On the manner of drying it afterwards the quality of the 

 colour which is obtained from it chiefly depends. The best is that which is dried in the sun. Some dry 

 it in the comalli, or pan, in which they bake their bread of maize; and others in the temaxcalli, a sort of 

 oven. [Ciarigcro, voL L p. 3oi. to 381.) 



1 190. The fruits of Mexico are very numerous. The banana and granadilla are verv 

 common ; the bread-fruit and cocoa are extensively cultivated ; and a number of sorts 

 of anona, or custard apple, and especially the cherimoyer {A. Cherimolia), which is much 

 esteemed. In short, all the fruits of Europe, and most of those of both Indies, are to be 

 found in the gardens of the nobles and the priests. 



Subsect. 3. Present State of Agriculture in the British Possessions of North America. 



1191. Tlie principal British proiinces in America are Canada, New Brunswick, Nova 

 Scotia, Cape Breton, and the adjacent islands of Newfoundland and the Bermudas. 



*1192. Canada is an extensive country, and the only British province in which agri- 

 culture is generally pursued. The climate of this country is extremely irregular ; in 

 July and August, the heat is often 96°, while in winter the mercury freezes. The 

 ground is covered with snow from November till May, when it thaws suddenlv, and 

 vegetation is instantaneous. The surface of the country is generally mountainous and 

 woody ; but there are savannas and plains of great beauty towards Upper Canada. 



1 193. The soil consists principally of a loose dark-coloured earth, ten or twelve inches 

 deep, lying on a bed of cold clay. This thin mould, however, is very fertile, and yields 

 plentiful crops, although it is worked every year by the French Canadians, without 

 being ever manured. The manures chiefly used, since the practice of manuring has 

 been introduced, by those who are the best farmers, are marl and gypsum, the former is 

 found in great quantities in many places along the shores of the river St. Lawrence. 



1194. With respect to the jrroducts of Canada, the low country is peculiarly adapted to 

 the growth of small grain. Tobacco also thrives well in it, but the culture is neglected, 

 except for private use ; and more than half of what is used is imported. The snuff pro- 

 duced from the Canadian tobacco is held in great estimation. Culinary vegetables arrive 

 at great perfection in Canada, which is also the case with most of the' European fruits. 

 The currants, gooseberries, and raspberries are very fine ; the latter are indigenous, and 

 are found very abundantly in the woods. A kind of vine is also indigenous ; but the 

 grapes produced by it in its uncultivated state are very poor and sour, and not much 

 larger than fine currants. In the forest there is a great variety- of trees ; such as beech, 

 oak, elm, ash, pine, sycamore, chestnut, and walnut ; and the sugar-maple tree is found 

 in almost every part of the country. Of this tree there are two kinds : the one called 

 the swamp maple, being generally found on low lands ; and the other, the mountain or 

 curled maple, from its growing upon high dry ground, and from the grain of its wood 

 being beautifully variegated with little stripes and curls. The former yields more sap 

 than the latter, but its sap affords less sugar. A pound of sugar is frequently procured 

 from two or three gallons of the sap of the curled maple, whereas no more than the same 

 quantity can be had from six or seven gallons of that of the swamp tree. The maple 



