travels in North America. 237 



Summer Grain, they pretend that the Nature of the Soil of this 

 Country will not allow of fowing any Thing before Winter, 

 But I believe the true Reafon why Seeds would not grow if 

 they were fowed in Autumn is, that they would be deftroyed by 

 the Winter, or rot at the melting of the Snow. It may alfo 

 be, and this is the Opinion of many Perfons, that the 

 Wheat they cultivate in Canada^ though originally brought from 

 Francey has in Procefs of Time contracted the Property of 

 Summer Seeds, which have not Strength enough to fhoot fe- 

 veral Times, as thofe do which we fow in September and Oc- 

 tober» 



Beans, or rather Kidney-Beans, are fowed along with the 

 r\r • c Maiz, the Stalks of which ferve to fupport 

 . ^/5^'/r them: I think I have heard that the Sa. 



zng and Hawejt. ^^^^^ received this Seed from us, on which 

 they fet a high Value, and it differs nothing from our's. 

 But I was furprifed that they make little or no Ufe of our Peas, 

 which have acquired in the Soil of Canada^ a Degree of Good- 

 nefs much fuperior to what they have in Europe, Sun- 

 Flowers, Water-Melons, and Pomkins are fet by themfelves ; 

 and before they fow the Seed, they make it Ihoot in Smoke, 

 in light and black Earth. 



For the moft Part the Women help one another in the Work 

 of the Field, and when it is Time to gather the Harve.ft, they 

 have fometimes Recourfe to the Men, who do not difdain to 

 affift in it. It ends in a Feftival and Feaft, whiçh is made in the 

 Night: Grain, and other Fruits of the Earth, are kept in Holes, 

 which they dig in the Earth, and which are lined with large 

 Pieces of Bark. Many leave the Maiz in the Ear as it grows, 

 made up in Ropes as we do Onions, and fpread them on great 

 Poles over the Entrance of the Cabins. Others get out the 

 Grain, and fill great Balkets with it made of Bark, full of 

 Holes to hinder it from heating. But when they are obliged 

 to be abfent feme Time, or are afraid of fome Irruption of àa 

 Enemy, they make great Holes in the Earth to hide it, where 

 this Grain keeps very well. 



In the northern Parts they fow little, and in many Places 

 Of the Maiz > ^^^7 purchafe the Maiz by 



^ * Exchange. This Grain is very wholefome, 



it Is nourifhing, and light of Digeftion. The moil common 

 Way of preparing it among our French Travellers is by Lixi* 

 vating, that is to fay, by boiling it fome Time in a Sort of Lie. 

 This Way keeps it a long Time ; they make Provilion of it for 

 long Journeys, and as they want it, they boil it again in Water, 

 or in Broth, if they have any Thing to make it of, and they put 

 a little Salt toit. 



It 



