XVIII.9 On the American terrain
The reason why there are so many savage nations in America is that the land there spontaneously produces many edible fruits. If the women till a piece of land near the cabin, corn grows right away. Hunting and fishing added to that allow men to live in abundance. Besides, grazing animals such as cattle, buffalo, etc., thrive better there than carnivorous animals.
I think we would not have all these advantages in Europe if we left the land fallow ; nothing would grow but forests, oaks, and other barren trees.