175 



In tho year 1758 we exported seventy thousnml 

 hogsheads of tobacco, which was the greatest quantity 

 ever prcnlucerl in this country in one year. But its 

 culture was fcist declining at the commencement of this 

 war and that of wheat taking its place: and it must 

 continue to decline on the return of peace. I suspect 

 that the change in the temperature of our climate has 

 become sensible to that plant, which, to be good, re- 

 quires no extraordinary degree of heat. — But it requires 

 still more indispensably an nnconunon fertility of soil : 

 and the price which it commands at market will not 

 enable the planter to ])ro(luce this by manure. Was 

 the supply still to de[)end on Virginia and Maryland 

 alone as its culture becomes more difficult, the price 

 woidd rise, so as to enai)le the j)lanter to surmount 

 those difficulties and to live. — But the western country 

 on the iMississii)pi, and the Midlands of Georgia, having 

 fresh and fertile lands in abundance, and a hotter sun, 

 will be able to undersell tliese two states, and will 

 oblige them to abandon the raising tobacco altogether. 

 And a happy obligation for them it will be. It is a cul- 

 ture productive of infinite wretchedness. Those em- 

 ployed in it are in a continual state of exertion beyond 

 the povver of nature tosu|)port. Little food of any kind 

 is raised by them ; so that the men and ani/nals on 

 these farms are badly {"eil, and the earth is rapidly im- 

 poverished. The cultivation of wheat is the reverse in 

 every circumstance. Besiries clothing the earth with 

 herbage, and [)rcserving its fertility, it feeds the la- 

 boin*ers plentifully, requires from them only a moderate 

 toil, except in the season of harvest, raises great numbers 

 of animals for food and service, and diffuses plenty and 

 happiness among the whole. We find it easier to make 

 an Imndred bushels of wheat than a thousand weight 

 of tobacco, and they are worth more when made. 'J'lie 

 weavil indeed is a formidable obstacle to the cultiva- 

 tion of this grain with us. But principles are already 

 known which must lead to a remedy. Thus a certain 

 degree of heat, to wit, that of the common air in sum- 

 mer, is necessary to hatch the egg. If subterranean 



