FALLOWING. 93 



meats the natives offered them was maize ; that during 

 the course of their navigation they found it at the An- 

 tilles, in Mexico and Peru, forming every where the ba- 

 sis of the nourishment of the people of these countries , 

 — that this plant, whose post is so imposing and so ma- 

 jestic constituted the ornament of the gardens of the 

 palaces of the Incas ; — that it was with its fruit the 

 hand of chosen virgins prepared the bread of the sa- 

 crifices ; and thus in tine, gratitude, this sentiment so 

 delicious for worthy hearts, had determined even the 

 rude people of the isles and continent of this new he- 

 misphere, to institute annual festivals on occasion of the 

 harvests of maize. 



Maize, then, this most excellent cosmopolite plant, 

 which seems adapted to so many climates, and created 

 for a benefit to so many regions of the globe, may be 

 justly considered as one of the best gifts of nature to 

 mankind. 



WHEAT. 



Bountiful as nature has been to man in the abundance 

 and diversity of her gifts, it is tor this plant, observes 

 Mr. Russell^ he ought to be particularly grateful. It 

 has in every age furnished the principal nourishment of 

 civilized man ; and while it is singularly qualified to sus- 

 tain his health and life, and to administer to his com- 

 forts and even to his enjo3^ments, it appears to be spe- 

 cially priviledged to dwell with him in every region of 

 the earth, and every where to promote and to reward 

 his industry. 



Common wheat has many varieties ; some of which 

 are bearded, and others bald ; some oval and others 

 round or square ; some yellow or red, and others white ; 

 some soft and others flinty. 



It grows vigorously in clay, in loam, in calcareous 

 earth, and even sand, when aided by manures, or in 

 succession to peas, clover, kc. But after whatever 

 kind of crop, this grain is cultivated, the soil should 

 constantly undergo that degree of preparation that may 

 be sufficient to bring it into a state of considerable pul- 

 verization and mellowness ; for whoever has watched 

 the progress of ^ this crop in such lands as have been 

 well broken down and reduced, and in such as have been 

 9^ 



