166 NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS. 



neous grain is not found in any other regions of America, or in those countries situated in 

 the same parallels of latitude, where the waters are as apparently adapted for its growth, 

 as in the climate I treat of. As for instance, none of the countries that lie to the south 

 and east of the Great Lakes, even from the provinces north of the Caroliuas, to the ex- 

 tremities of Labrador, produce any of this grain. It is true, I found great quantities of 

 it in the watered lands near Detroit, between Lake Huron and Lake Erie, but, on inquiry, 

 I learned that it never arrived nearer to maturity than just to blossom, after which it ap- 

 peared blighted and died away. This convinces me, that the northwest wind, as I have 

 before hinted, is much more powerful in these than in the interior parts, and that it is more 

 inimical to the fruits of the earth, after it has passed over the lakes and become united 

 with the wind which joins it from the frozen regions of the north, than it is further to the 

 westward" 



The reasons assigned by Carver, why this grain is not seen in a state of maturity, to 

 the east nor to the south of the Great Lakes, are unsatisfactory. The northwest winds 

 are mitigated in passing over those immense bodies of water, nor is his assertion warranted 

 by the fact. This rice certainly flourishes to the south of the lakes, and we have the 

 authority of Kalm to support us in stating, that it grows to the east. The only difficulty 

 exists as to the degree of latitude by which its growth is bounded ; and it is believed, 

 that Mackenzie limits its northern extension too much. Kalm says, that on the 16th of 

 July he saw it growing on the western side of Lake Champlain, near Crown Point, in this 

 state, and in the 44th degree of north latitude ; and again he mentions, that the zizania 

 uquatica, or folle avoine, grows plentifully in the rivulet, or brook, which flows somewhat 

 below Prairie de la Magdalene, a small village on the eastern side of the river St. Law- 

 rence, about eight miles from Montreal ; and that its seeds are gathered in October, and 

 taste almost as well as rice. Dr. Williams says, that it is a native of Vermont. A con- 

 siderable difficulty exists with respect to the botanical arrangement and denomination of 

 this plant. Linnaeus, and after him Kalm, calls it zizania aquatica. M. Desfontaines, in 

 his tableau de L' Ecole de Botanique du Museum D'Histoire Naturalle, thus mentions it, 

 quoting Linnasus for his authority, zizania aquatica grows in the northern parts of Ame- 

 rica, is an annual plant, and is alimentary. Michaux, in his Flora Boreali-Americana, 

 makes three species. 



1. Milacea, } 



„. . > growing in the watery parts of North America. 



'*.• i^lavulosa, \ 



3. Fluitans — at Lake Champlain. 



Of the second he says, this is the zizania of Gronovius, which Linnffius has^mproperly 



arranged with the Sloanina. 



