CiiAP. VIII.] Agriculture. 99 



it was before unknown, and lias been constantly 

 gaining gronnd, both in reputation and utility. 

 The ease with which this species of corn is culti- 

 vated, its great productiveness, its. exemption from 

 injiu-y by those seasons and insects which destrov 

 other grains, its singularly wholesome and nutri- 

 tive qualities, and the great variety of excellent 

 preparations of which it is susceptible, render its 

 extended cultivation one of the most distinguished 

 and useful agricultural improvements of the age. 



The cultivation of the Sugar Cane, in the Ame- 

 rican islands, though not wholly, is in a great mea- 

 sure an improvement of the eighteenth century. 

 The great importance of this plant, in various points 

 of view, renders the increase of its culture, in any 

 part of the world, an object worthy of particular 

 regard*. Connected with the sugar cane is the 

 Sugar Maple of the United States, which has latel^y 

 grown into an article of consequence. An estimate 

 may be formed of the value of this tree, as a mean 

 of supplying ourselves and other nations with a 

 salutary food, by perusing the various publications 

 which, within a few years past, have been made on 

 the subject, particularly those of Mr. Noble and 

 Dr. Rush. The discovery that sugar of an excel- 

 lent quality may be extracted in large quantities 

 from tlie Beet Root was made a few years ago, by 



* In 1700 the quantity of sngar imported into England amounted 

 only to 481425 ciut. ; but, in l/tiO, the consumption of this article, 

 in the same country, had^ increased to 148/202 civt. Tiie de- 

 mand for it has been rapidly augmenting through the whole centuiy, 

 and it is now to be found in almost every hovel, the ten;int of 

 ^vhich has the njeans of purclin^ing it. See Ramsay's Raic.v, p. 'iZ, 



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