77 



introduced into Georgia a few years since and has been 

 found to grow there in great perfection.* The sacharine 

 matter of the Georgia cane is quite as rich and plentiful as 

 that from the cane of the West-Indies. It is supposed 

 that most of the land in that state near the coast, south of 

 Sunbury, may be converted into sugar plantations ; and 

 since it is pretty well ascertained that more cotton is raised 

 than the manufactories of that article consume, the sugar 

 cane might be advantageously substituted for it.f The 

 interests of humanity, however, would not be advanced 

 by the exchange, as they employ more slaves to make the 

 sugar than to cultivate the cotton. 



The Fiorin Grass, or Agrostis Stolonifera, is a native of 

 the United States4 Our fellow member, Charles Whitlow, 

 first discovered it in Sussex county, New- Jersey, and after- 

 wards on the margin of the Genesee river — It grows also 

 in great profusion on the island below this city.§ Dr. 

 Mease mentions that he found it on the commons of 

 Philadelphia. This I believe to be incorrect. It is the Agros- 

 tis Capillaris,1[ and not the Stolonifera, which is seen in that 

 place. 



The Fiorin Grass has excited much attention in this 

 country, since the introduction of Merino Sheep; these 

 animals being remarkably fond of it, and the grass, from its 

 succulent qualities, being well adapted for their fodder — 

 Indeed most cattle prefer it as food to the other grasses ; 

 and it is particularly proper for cows, as it is said to increase 

 the quantity and to improve the quality of their milk. 



The advantages in agriculture of the Agrostis are of no 



* Medical Repos. vol. 12, p. 192. 



f Dr. Mease recommends the raising of the papaver in room of the 

 cotton. 



* There are sis species of the Agrostis mentioned by Dr. Muhlen- 

 berg as natives of this country, two of these are new species — the 

 Capillaris is among the number but not the Stolonifera — See Muh- 

 lenberg's Florse Lancastriensis in American Philoso. Trans, vol. 3, 

 p. 160. 



§ On this island is found the Avena elatior and in the small com- 

 pass of 6 feet I have seen 6 or 8 different species ef grass. 

 U Archives of Useful Knowledge, vol. 2, p. 278. 

 E 



