Of Food, 471 



With regard to the expense of importing it, there 

 may be, and doubtless there are frequently, other 

 expenses besides those of freight and insurance ; but, 

 on the other hand, a very considerable part of the 

 expenses attending the importation of it may be reim- 

 bursed by the profits arising from the sale of the bar- 

 rels in which it is imported, as I have been informed 

 by a person who imports it every year, and always 

 avails himself of that advantage. 



One circumstance much in favor of the introduction 

 of Indian corn into common use in this country is the 

 facility with which it may be had in any quantity. It 

 grows in all quarters of the globe, and almost in every 

 cHmate ; and in hot countries two or three crops of it 

 may be raised from the same ground in the course of 

 a year. It succeeds equally well in the cold regions 

 of Canada, in the temperate climes of the United 

 States of America, and in the burning heats of the 

 tropics ; and it might be had from Africa and Asia as 

 well as from America. And were it even true — what 

 I never can be persuaded to believe — that it would be 

 impossible to introduce it as an article of food in this 

 country, it might at least be used as fodder for cattle, 

 whose aversion to it, I will venture to say, would not 

 be found to be unconquerable. 



Oats now cost near twopence the pound in this 

 country. Indian corn, which would cost but a little 

 more than half as much, would certainly be much more 

 nourishing, even for horses, as well as for horned cat- 

 tle ; and as for hogs and poultry, they ought never to 

 be fed with any other grain. Those who have tasted 

 the pork and the poultry fatted on Indian corn will 

 readily give their assent to this opinion. 



