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An acre of ground cultivated in the vicinity of large cities, produces annually from six to seven dollars, but in the interior of the country, it does not produce more than the half of that sum.[1] Calculating the mean value of its product, then, at the rate of four dollars, the 60 millions of acres in a state of cultivation ought to produce 240 millions of dollars; but I have already said, and it is well known, that of the lands which are considered as in a state of cultivation, there is a great deal turned out, that neither produces any thing, nor is ameliorated, either because the mania of seeking new lands and of preferring them to the old, prevails among the Americans, or because the pro-
- ↑ The annual product of ground in the vicinity of the large cities, averages at least four times the amount given by the author, by the acre. T.
years, of an emigrant to this country having repented, at abandoning his native soil—more particularly among those from the three countries mentioned, who are, for the most part, mechanics or farmers, and who are certain of obtaining immediate employment, and of becoming in a short time independent and respectable. It frequently happens, indeed, that the dreams of lazy vagabonds, who come to this country with the expectation of being maintained in their idleness, and of enjoying the blessings of our free institutions without contributing to their support, are not verified; but the honest, industrious emigrant, who knows how to value the gifts of nature, and to discriminate between political systems, never fails to find all his hopes and wishes, as far as they depend upon human exertions, gratified. T.
