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hausted with extreme heat: and for a day or two after the gust, the wind usually blows from the westward. At the same time the coolness of the air is increased and continued by the rapid evaporation which follows a shower; the heat of the earth combining with the water, being carried off in an invisible form.

594. Weather westward of the Mountains. That part of the United States which lies westward of the high lands, which divide the streams falling into the Atlantic from those which fall into the lakes and the Mississippi, has a more temperate climate than the same latitudes on the Atlantic, and is less subject to violent storms. It is remarkable also, that showers sometimes collect more suddenly over that part of the country-the rain does not begin gradually, but almost instantly pours down a torrent of water-and all at once it ceases, as in the twinkling of an eye. Snow falls frequently and without wind. Thunder also is less frequent in some parts of the interior country, than it is eastward of the mountains.

595, Climate in regard to Health. The northern Atlantic region of the United States, being mostly dry, hilly land, is favored with a pure air and good water, and distinguished by the salubrity of its climate. In a very few places, low and marshy lands are found to produce autumnal diseases. The mountainous parts of the middle and southern regions, are, as in all parts of the globe, healthy. From the Hudson southward, the flat lands along the Atlantic and by the sides of rivers, are infested with autumnal fevers. In the northern region, one half of the children born live to be nineteen years old; one seventh live to the age of seventy; and one thirteenth to the age of eighty. The annual deaths amount to one in seventy, or seventy-five, of all the inhabitants living.

596. Diseases of the United States. The ordinary diseases of the United States are the same as those which invade mankind in all similar climates. The usual epidemics are hooping cough, measles, influenza, scarlet fever, with some milder eruptive diseases. These diseases are periodical, though the periods are not exact

ly uniform. The autumnal diseases are chiefly dysentery and bilious fevers of all grades, from slight intermittents to the malignant fever, which is denominated pestilence. The dysentery appears, in scattered cases every year; but in some autumns becomes epidemic with great mortality. It however never invades large cities with such general mortality, as it does particular parts of the country. The malignant bilious fever occurs occasionally, but chiefly in large towns on the sea coast, or on rivers, or near lakes and stagnant water.

597. Chronic Diseases. In the northern region of the United States, and especially on the sea shore, the consumption is the most general and fatal chronic complaint; carrying off in some places, a fifth of the inhabitants. In the middle region it is prevalent, but in a less degree; and in the southern, is still less destructive. Rheumatic complaints, gout, and hypochondriac affections are common. In the country west of the mountains, between the Ohio and the lakes, the goiter, or swelling upon the throat, is very prevalent among the whites, but not among the natives.

QUESTIONS.

558. What are the different forms of government?

559. Which is the first constitution formed on the true principles of a republic?

560. How are the powers of government distributed in the constitutions of the states and United States?

561. How is the House of Representatives formed, in the constitution of the United States?

562. What are the qualifications of electors?

563. How is the representation apportioned among the states? How is the Senate of the United States composed

564. What are the distinct powers of the two houses of Congress?

565. Which house must originate money bills and why? 566. How are bills for laws enacted?

567. What are the powers of Congress?

568. What limitations or restrictions are imposed on the powers of Congress?

569. In whom is the executive power vested? How are the President and Vice-President elected?

570. What are the qualifications for the presidency?

571. What are the powers and duties of the President? 572. What is the judicial power in government, and how is it vested by the constitution of the United States?

573. What is treason by the constitution? What provision is there for securing criminals fleeing from justice? How are new states admitted into the Union? What provision is there for toleration?

574. What are the advantages and what the evils of monarchy ?

575. What are the advantages and evils of aristocracy?

576. What are the advantages and evils of republican government?

577. What were the first measures of Congress and what success has attended our government?

578. What has been the origin of civil liberty?

579. What was the character of the puritans, and what their influence in introducing republican forms of government?

580. What were the institutions of the puritans which were the foundations of our republican government?

581. What have been the effects of the New England institutions, and what extensive effects may yet be expected from them?

582. What is the extent of the territory of the United States? How many square miles is it estimated to contain?

583. What are the climates of the United States?

584. What is the temperature of the several regions or sections of the United States?

585. What proportion of winters are severe ? 586. What is the temperature of summer?

587. What is the weather in spring and autumn?

588. What is the proportion of dry weather?

589. What are the prevailing winds in the United States? 590. What are the sea breezes?

591. What are the usual winds in storms?

592. What are the prevailing rains?

593. What is the effect of summer showers?

594. What is the weather west of the mountains?

595. What is the climate in regard to health?

596, 597. What are the most usual diseases of the United States?

CHAPTER XVI.

VEGETABLE PRODUCTIONS.

In the

598. Native Trees of the United States. variety, size and beauty of its forest trees, no country

can exceed the United States. The kinds of trees found in every part of our country are, oak, pine, maple, beech, ash, spruce, fir, hemlock, hickory, elm, chesnut, willow, poplar, cedar, locust, sassafras, laurel, birch, cherry, bass-wood, butternut, hornbeam, bay, button-wood, elder, dog-wood. Of several of these kinds there are many varieties.

599. Trees peculiar to particular regions. The black-walnut is indigenous, in the country southward of the Hudson, and not eastward; but when transplanted, it grows well in New England. The persimmon, chincopin, catalpa, papaw, plane-tree, magnolia, aloe, cypress, paccan, pimento, and some others, are found solely or chiefly in the middle, southern and western regions of the United States. The live oak, the best timber for ships, is a native of the southern regions, chiefly of the islands on the coast of South Carolina and Georgia, and of the Mississippi territory and in Florida.

600. Shrubs and wild Fruit Trees. The crab-apple is found in all parts of the United States, and in the southern and middle regions cider is made of its fruit. Most parts of this country abound with wild cherries, currants, grapes, strawberries, huckleberries, blackberries, dewberries, raspberries, barberries, mulberries, bayberries, juniper berries, filberts, hazlenuts, bilberries, plums, gooseberries, sumac, honeysuckle, myrtle, cranberries. The latter furnishes our tables with one of the richest sauces.

601. Foreign Trees and Fruits cultivated in America. Most of the fruit trees cultivated on the eastern continent, thrive well in the United States. Among these are apples, peaches, pears, quinces, cherries, plums, apricots, nectarines, gooseberries, raspberries, melons, oranges, lemons, figs, pomegranates, olives, and almonds. Apples thrive best in the middle and northern regionspeaches and melons in the southern. The peach is found in a good degree of perfection as far north as Boston, but farther northward, degenerates, and is cultivated with difficulty. Oranges, lemons, pomegranates, almonds, figs, and olives, grow as far north as Virginia,

but are subject to be killed by the frosts of winter.-la South Carolina and Georgia, they are cultivated with

success.

602. Garden Vegetables. Every species of vege table cultivated for the use of the table in the old world, thrives well in America. Of these we have peas, beans, cabbages, cauliflowers, spinage, celery, lettuce, asparagus, turneps, onions, beets, radishes, carrots, parsneps, cucumbers, and a variety of other kinds, used in cookery and for medicinal purposes. The sugar cane has been introduced into Louisiana and Georgia, and is cultivated with success, affording sugar of the best quality.

603. Plants indigenous in America. Maiz, potatoes, tobacco, pumpkins, squashes, hops and ginseng, are native productions of America. Of these the three first are of the most use. Maiz, commonly called Indian corn, is one of the most extensively useful grains known in the world; as it thrives through a range of nearly one hundred degrees of latitude, or fifty degrees on each side of the equator, and is one of the most nourishing articles of food for man and beast. In the southern parts of the United States this plant grows to the hight of twelve or fourteen feet, the ear springs from the twelfth or thirteenth joint, far above the reach of a man standing on the ground.—In the middle parts of the United States, the species cultivated grow to the hight of eight or ten feet, and the ears spring from the fifth, sixth, or seventh joint.-In the more northern parts and in Canada, a species of four or five feet growth, with ears shooting from the second and third joints, is the only one which the shortness of the summer heat, will permit to come to maturity. What an admirable proof is this of the wisdom and goodness of the Creator, thus to fit the several species of this all-important grain, to the several climates of the globe!

604. Potatoe. The discovery of America added this invaluable root to the esculent vegetables of the eastern continent. It was found and carried to Europe by some of the adventurers under Sir Walter Raleigh. The ease with which it is cultivated, the great quantity of food

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