PROGRESS OF AGRICULTURE. 15

In 1565, Spain granted to Francisco de Eraso 25 leagues square. (3, 600, 000 acres,) to be located wherever he pleased, in Florida, with the office of governor, and various other titles and privileges for him- self and heirs, exempting them from imposts and duties, on conditions that he should provide several caravals for exploration, and colonize his tract, within three years, with 500 settlers, most of whom should be husbandmen, 500 slaves, 100 horses and mares, 200 heifers, 400 swine, and 400 ewes.

In 1622, the“ London Company,“ n Virginia, was encouraged by James I. in the breeding of silkworms and the establishment of silk works. In about the year 1651, this branch of industry again became an object of interest in that colony, and premiums were offered for its promotion.

In 1657, the growth of hops was encouraged in Virginia by legisla- tive enactments.

In 1717, a royal grant of 144 square miles was made by France to the celebrated John Law, on the Arkansas, with a complete monopoly of the trade and mines of the Territory for twenty-seven years, on condition of introducing from Germany or Provence 1,500 persons to settle the land.

In 1732, a parcel of ground belonging to government was allotted as a nursery plantation for mulberry-trees in the infant settlement of Georgia, and several of the colonists were soon after engaged in rearing silkworms.

For ten years preceding 1743, the British Parliament granted to the patentees of Georgia§600, 000(A120, 000) for the encourage- ment of the culture of indigo and other agricultural crops.

In. 1749, an act of Parliament was passed for encouraging the growth of silk in Carolina and Georgia, exempting the producers from the payment of duties on importation into London.

In 1766, the house of assembly of the province of Carolina voted the sum of 55, 000(Q1, 000) towards the establishment of a silk filature at Charleston.

In 1768, the Society for Promoting Arts,&c., at New York, awarded a premium of§50(410) to Thomas Young, of Oyster bay, for the largest nursery of apple-trees, the number being 27, 123.

In 1783, the legislature of Connecticut passed an act granting a bounty on the production of mulberry-trees and the rearing of raw silkworms.

In 1785, by an arrangement between the courts of France and Spain, a large number of Acadian families(about 2,500 persons) were transferred to Louisiana at the expense of the French King, and joined the colonists from Malaga and the Canaries, imported a few years before at the expense of Spain.

In 1786, an ordinance was given at Madrid, under the Spanish ministry, commanding that the colonial authorities should,"'by all possible means,*** X extend agriculture and the sowing of grain, especially that of wheat, by assistance of the exemption from

royal duties, enjoyed by flour exported from Vera Cruz and other ports of that kingdom.“*