VEGETABLES. 



223 



In South Carolina and Georgia, the appearance of 

 this plant is always indicative of good land. 



The Indians of Canada carefully collect the seeds 

 of this plant, in the Autumn, to make bread, as we 

 are informed by Mr. Mackenzie, and other travel- 

 lers. Wild fowl grow fat upon the seeds. 



Its introduction into England, has been seriously 

 proposed by an eminent character.* This plant has 

 an extensive range in North America. 



Artificial Grasses. 



The artificial grasses in common cultivation in the 

 United States, are : 



1. Red clover. This important grass was intro- 

 duced into Pennsylvania about sixty years ago, but 

 excited little attention until twenty years afterwards, 

 when its vegetative power was discovered to be in- 

 creased to a most incredible degree, by the apparent 

 magical effects of gypsum. Since that time it has 

 become an essential article in the rotation of crops 

 of the state, and has diffused more substantial wealth 

 than would have resulted from the discovery of a 

 gold mine.j 



The cultivation of this grass is now beginning to 

 progress southward, and in passing through Mary- 

 land and Virginia^ spots of clover may be occasion- 

 ally seen ; but, it is to be regretted^ that the plant- 

 ers of these states do not see their interest in culti- 

 vating this excellent exotic in an extensive man- 

 ner ; instead di continuing the exhausting and pre- 



* Lambert, in Trans. Lin. Soc. 



t For an account of the introduction of gypsum into Pennsylvania, 

 its use as a manure, and a theory of its action, see the Dom. Encyc. 

 iirt. Gypsitm. 



