Page:Good Newes from New England.djvu/79

 May. Our harveſt beginneth with September. This corne increaſeth in great meaſure, but is inferiour in quantitie to the ſame in Virginia, the reaſon I conceiue, is becauſe Virginia is farre hotter then it is with vs, it requiring great heate to ripen; but whereas it is obiected against New-England, that Corne will not there grow, except the ground be manured with fiſh? I anſwere, That where men ſet with fiſh (as with vs) it is more eaſie ſo to doe then to cleare ground and ſet without ſome fiue or ſixe yeares, and ſo begin anew, as in Virginia and elſe where. Not but that in ſome places, where they cannot be taken with eaſe in ſuch abundance, the Indians ſet foure yeares together without, and haue as good Corne or better then we haue that ſet with them, though indeed I thinke if wee had Cattell to till the ground, it would be more profitable and better agreeable to the ſoile, to ſow Wheate, Rye, Barley, Peaſe, and Oats, then to ſet Mays, which our Indians call Ewachim: for we haue had experience that they like and thriue well; and the other will not be procured without good labour and diligence, eſpecially at ſeed-time, when it muſt alſo be watched by night to keepe the Wolues from the fiſh, till it be rotten, which will be in foureteene dayes; yet men agreeing together, and taking their turnes it is not much.

Much might be ſpoken of the benefit that may come to ſuch as ſhall here plant by Trade with the Indians for Furs, if men take a right courſe for obtaining the ſame, for I dare preſume vpon that ſmall experience I haue had, to affirme, that the Engliſh, Dutch, and French, returne yeerely many thouſand pounds profits by Trade onely from that Iland, on which we are ſeated.

Tobacco may be there planted, but not with that profit as in ſome other places, neither were it profitable there to follow it, though the increaſe were equall, becauſe fiſh is a better and richer Commoditie, and more neceſſary, which may be and are there had in as great abundance as in any other part of the world; Witneſſe the