288 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



comes frozen to the depth of 2 or 3 feet; and in the spring, when the 

 rays of the sun begin to operate, it is several weeks before they com- 

 pletely extract the frost, during which time a cold vapour rises out 

 of the earth, which keeps the air damp and chilly. This accounts 

 for the coldness and backwardness of the spring, in the middle states 

 along the atlantic shore. 



Soil and agricultural productions. ...In so extensive a domain 

 as that of the United States, diversified with elevated mountains, un- 

 dulating hills, and low flat plains and marshes, and embracing the 

 most congenial climate of the temperate zone ; almost every variety 

 of soil and production of the earth may be found. The soil along the 

 sea coasts of the middle and southern states is composed principally 

 of a sea sand, which extends from 50 to 120 miles into the country. 

 As you approach the mountains, this sand is mingled with a red clay 

 and gravel, washed from the adjacent heights, which gives the soil a 

 yellowish cast. Large tracts of this region are poor and unproduc- 

 tive. But in Maryland, Virginia, and the middle states, the soil is 

 well adapted to the production of grain, especially wheat, which is 

 the great staple commodity of the United States. South of this, to 

 the confines of Florida, tobacco, rice, indian corn, cotton and indigo, 

 are produced in great abundance and perfection. The soil of the 

 Mississippi territory, Tennessee and Kentucky, is composed of a 

 black, rich, friable mould, from three to fifteen feet deep, which pro- 

 duces excellent wheat, rye, barley and oats : but indian corn, rice, 

 hemp, tobacco, indigo and cotton, the last of which has become the 

 staple commodity of the south, flourish here in the greatest perfec- 

 tion The state of Ohio, Indiana territory, and part of Illinois, exhi- 

 bit a uniform richness and strength of soil, equalled by few sections of 

 the United States, and surpassed by none. The hills, if almost im- 

 perceptible ascents may claim that appellation, as well as the plains, 

 and river bottoms, are composed of a rich, black, moist, warm loam, 

 containing a mixture of sand, and covered with ash, walnut, maple, 

 wild cherry, sycamore, elm, buck eye, honey locust, sassafras, pop- 

 lar, hiccory, beech, &c. of immense growth. This region is well 

 adapted to the production of hemp, flax, tobacco, cotton, indigo, Sec. 

 At Belfre, a beautiful settlement on the Ohio, a few miles below Ma- 

 rietta, fifty bushels of wheat have been produced from one acre; and 

 on the river bottoms, in good seasons, it is no uncommon circum- 

 stance to raise one hundred bushels of indian corn to the acre. To- 

 wards the northern lakes, the soil becomes cold, sterile, and less 

 productive. Along the north-western parts of Pennsylvania and 

 New-York, bordering on the lakes Erie and Ontario, the soil is rich, and 

 produces excellent wheat, rye, maize, and various species of grasses. 

 Sugar of a very superior quality is cultivated in the state of Loui- 

 siana. 



New-England is diversified with a great variety of soils. The hills 

 are covered with a dark coloured loam, mixed with gravel. On the 

 plains sand generally predominates, particularly in the south-eastern 

 parts of Massachusetts. The chief agricultural productions are, 

 grass, flax, rye, oats, wheat, Indian corn, barley and potatoes. Though 

 the hand of cultivation, has, as yet, made but little impression on the 

 forests covering the ranges of the Allegany mountains ; yet it has 

 been sufficient to evince that the soil of this wilderness, may, under 

 proper management, rival that of Ireland in the production of flax. 

 It is necessary only to sow it thicker and pull it earlier, to render it 



