384 Jgriadtiirc. 



vegetable which appeared congenial to their soil^ 

 lor a number of years they made little progress in 

 it,^ not properly understanding the nature of the 

 soil, or the means of culture favourable to its 

 growth, and having little prospect of commercial 

 advantage from it, to animate their exertions. 

 But since the restraints and discouragements of 

 colonial servility have been taken off, the cultiva- 

 tion of this grain has become much more extended, 

 not only in South-Carolina, but also in North-Ca- 

 rolina and Georgia, and is now to be regarded as 

 a principal staple of those States.'^ 



Cotton w^as first cultivated in America, to any 

 extent, in the century under review. As it hap- 

 pened w^ith respect to Rice, the original introduc- 

 tion of this article was many years prior to its be- 

 coming an object of much attention and importance. 

 But the advantages which have accrued particu- 

 larly to South-Carolina and Georgia, within a few 

 years past, from cotton having become a principal 

 object of agriculture in those States, are truly asto- 

 nishing. It is confidently asserted, that in some 

 parts of those States, the amount of wealth has 

 more than trebled within the last five or six years, 

 irom this source alone. 



The cultivation of Indigo in America also com- 

 menced within the period of the present retrospect. 

 This plant, wiiich is a native of Hindostan, had an 

 American residence first assigned to it in Mexico 

 and the Teeward Islands."" Its introduction into 

 South-Carolina took place, it is believed, about 

 the beginning of tlie eighteenth century, or not 

 long afterwards. But though this vegetable a few 

 years ago held an important place among the ob- 



n Attempts have been made on a small scale, to cultivate Rice in the 

 State of Maryland, and not without success ; but the object has not bee» 

 pursued to any profitable extent. Sec Bordley's Husbandry. 



a Raynal's History of the East and IVcst-InJics, 



