AGRICULTURE OF LEW CHEW. 33 



No Irish potatoes (solarium tuberosum), no Indian corn (Zea-mays), were seen, or are Relieved 

 to exist; although the latter is mentioned as heing here, in hoth Hall's Lew Chew and Belcher's 

 Voyage in the Samarang. 



Tohacco (nicotiana tabacum), of a healthy, heairtiful, and delicate kind, is raised. Enough 

 is made for the consumption of all classes, and the people, from the highest to the lowest, seem 

 equally to use it, and to be equally unable to do without it. On journeys they regularly call a 

 halt, and, taking a few exhilarating whiffs from their excessively diminutive pipes, they resume 

 the road with cheerfulness and mirth. There is nothing peculiar in its tillage; but in curing, 

 it is unnecessarily or purposely exposed to weather and rain, and is, consequently, very weak. 

 If properly managed, it would' doubtless make delightful cigars, combining strength and 

 mildness. 



Grasses. — Only one worthy of special notice. 



A coarse grass, somewhat after the arundo order, springs up spontaneously, and amidst it 

 there are a few finer sorts, but very small ; and also two kinds of dwarf clover with yellow blos- 

 soms, the lupuline (medicago lupulina), and hop trefoil (trifolium procumbens) , called also sheep 

 clover. This grass is cut from the borders and sides of the terraces, when sufficiently sloping, 

 and from the unfilled land, and fed green to the horses and stock. Tethering is sometimes 

 practised. There is no large trifolium, (or clover,) no poa, no phleum, no lolium, no dactylis, 

 or, if so, none practically useful, but has to be searched for by the botanist. There is, however, 

 one grass that makes a beautiful border in the villages, and which struck me at first sight as 

 being a magnificent poa. The leaves were like it in shape and length, and very green. Upon 

 examination, the - under surface of the leaf had elevated white ribs along it, no culm could be 

 found, and the plant extended itself by rhizomas, and had tubers, or, rather, tumors upon the 

 fibrous roots. It is a hardy plant, and would probably grow in the sandy soils and dry climate 

 of New Jersey, Maryland, &c. Should it spread rapidly and stock be fond of it, it would be a 

 most useful and valuable boon to those States. But it must be remarked, that however closely 

 other grasses were cut and gathered for stock, this seemed to be always left untouched. 



A few stalks, growing wild, were seen of what is believed to be the yellow lucern (medicago 

 falcata.) It is coarser than lucern, and not cultivated, except in some poor soils in France and 

 England. This was in a fertile spot and very luxuriant, with a coarse, woody stem. No use 

 seems to be made of it, though it might be turned to a good account in soiling. Wild garlic 

 (allium vineale) was seen infesting a few lots or parcels of wheat, "as thick as hops." 



Fruits. — Little is known of them. A large and a small species of orange (citrus aurantium) 

 appear in market, but are very indifferent. Peach trees (persica vulgaris), of large size and 

 healthy, are met with in bloom. Water-melons (citrullus vulgaris), are abundant, but inferior. 

 No other fruits are remembered. Apples, pears, cherries, strawberries, &c, would, no doubt, 

 succeed. 



A wild raspberry (rubus japonicus) was seen growing in various places on the hills of the 

 north. The flower is white, and unusually large, resembling that of the blackberry or bram- 

 ble (rubus villosus). The fruit is also very large, (for a wild plant,) but the flavor is not very 

 decided, or, rather, is mild. It would be greatly improved by transplanting and culture, 

 and is probably worthy of introduction into the United States. Four species of raspberries are 

 mentioned by Thunberg as existing in Japan, with the description of one of which the above 

 plant corresponds. 



Another vine or shrub was found in like situations, which, at first, was mistaken for a grape, 

 5 s 



