69 



native plant of the country, with climate and 

 soil peculiarly well adapted to its growth ; in 

 small quantities it has been raised on many 

 farms, though as an object of commerce, the 

 cultivation of it has not been attended with 

 success, notwithstanding it has been tried under 

 the sanction of government, that held out the 

 encouragement of premiums, with the additional 

 inducement of a certain good price per ton for 

 all such as might be produced fit for its pur- 

 poses ; as so desirable an object hath not been 

 accomplished under these circumstances, it 

 would seem to imply that some insurmountable 

 obstacle opposes it. In reality there is none 

 such ; both soil and climate are favourable as 

 nature could form them, and the extensive de- 

 mand of Great Britain must ever ensure an 

 undoubted market at prices high enough to 

 remunerate the growers very handsomely ; the 

 cause of failure in the attempt must be sought 

 for somewhere else than in any natural de- 

 ficiencies. That time and considerable sums 

 of money have been wasted is unquestionably 

 true, but it is equally a fact, that the good in- 

 tentions of administration have been defeated 

 by the inadequate measures pursued in the ex- 

 ecution of the plans, and not a little impeded 

 by a want of general agricultural knowledge in 

 Ihe persons to whom its management was con^ 



