Chap. VIII.] Agriculture. jOl 



pened with respect to rice, the original intro(hu> 

 tion of this article was inaiiy years prior to its Vxj- 

 comiiig an object of much atteution and importance. 

 But the advantages which have accrued particularly 

 to South Carolina and Georgia, witliin a luvv years 

 past, from cotton having become a principal object 

 of agriculture in those states, are truly astonishing. 

 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, from this source 

 alone*. 



The cultivation of Indigo in America also com- 

 menced w ithin the period of the present retrospect. 

 This plant, which is a native of Ilindostan, had an 

 American residence first assigned to it in Mexico 

 and the Leeward Islands f. Its introduction into 

 South Carolina took place, it is believed, about the 

 beginning of the eighteenth century, or not long 

 afterwards. But though this vegetable a few years 

 ago held an important ])lace among the objects of 

 culture in that southern country, it has lately en- 

 gaged much less attention than formerly. 



The practice of iiaturalizing foreign vegetables^ 

 in different soils, has been practised on a more ex- 

 tensive scale, during the eighteenth century, than 

 in any preceding period. Amidst all the labour 

 and care of the ancients to impro\e agriculture, 



* The progress of the cuUivntion of coUon has been much 

 more remarkable. In 1/90, tlie (jiiautity of cotton exported from 

 South Carohiia was 9840 /6^.j in l/Uo, \\0[)i)5'Mbs.; in IbOO, 

 6425863 lbs.; and in 1801, 830190/ lbs. 



For the above information the author is indebted to the pohtc- 

 ness of Dr. John Parker Gough, of Charleston. 



I Raynars Hhtory of ihc Kcc^t and Ifcat Ind/'fS. 



