The fourth sort grows upon Trees, some ten and twelve Foot high,
and the Thickness of a Man's Arm; these are found in the Runs and low Grounds,
and are very pleasant, and bear wonderfully. The English sometimes
dry them in the Sun, and keep them to use in the Winter,
instead of Currants. The Indians get many Bushels, and dry them on Mats,
whereof they make Plum-Bread, and many other Eatables.
They are good in Tarts, or infused in Liquors.
{Piemento.}
In the same Ground, commonly grows the Piemento, or All-Spice-Tree,
whose Berries differ in shape from those in the West-Indies,
being Taper or Conick, yet not inferiour, to any of that sort.
This Tree grows much like the Hurts, and is of the same Bigness.
I have known it transplanted to high Land, where it thrives.
{Dews. Black-Berries.}
Our Dew-Berries are very good. But the Black-Berries are bitterish,
and not so palatable, as in England.
{Sugar Tree.}
The Sugar-Tree ought to have taken place before. It is found
in no other parts of Carolina or America, that I ever learnt,
but in Places that are near the Mountains. It's most like one sort of Maple,
of any Tree, and may be rank'd amongst that kind. This Tree,
which, I am told, is of a very tedious Growth, is found very plentifully
towards the Heads of some of our Rivers. The Indians tap it,
and make Gourds to receive the Liquor, which Operation is done
at distinct and proper times, when it best yields its Juice,
of which, when the Indians have gotten enough, they carry it home,
and boil it to a just Consistence of Sugar, which grains of itself,
and serves for the same Uses, as other Sugar does.
{Papau.}
The Papau is not a large Tree. I think, I never saw one a Foot through;
but has the broadest Leaf of any Tree in the Woods, and bears an Apple
about the Bigness of a Hen's Egg, yellow, soft, and as sweet,
as any thing can well be. They make rare Puddings of this Fruit.
The Apple contains a large Stone.
{Wild Fig.}
The wild Fig grows in Virginia, up in the Mountains, as I am inform'd
by a Gentleman of my acquaintance, who is a Person of Credit,
and a great Traveller in America. I shall be glad to have an Opportunity
to make Tryal what Improvement might be made of this wild Fruit.
{Plum red.}
The wild Plums of America are of several sorts. Those which I can give
an account of from my own Knowledge, I will, and leave the others
till a farther Discovery. The most frequent is that which we call
the common Indian Plum, of which there are two sorts, if not more.
One of these is ripe much sooner than the other, and differs in the Bark;
one of the Barks being very scaly, like our American Birch.
These Trees, when in Blossom, smell as sweet as any Jessamine,
and look as white as a Sheet, being something prickly. You may make it grow
to what Shape you please; they are very ornamental about a House,
and make a wonderful fine Shew at a Distance, in the Spring,
because of their white Livery. Their Fruit is red, and very palatable
to the sick. They are of a quick Growth, and will bear from the Stone
in five Years, on their Stock. The English large black Plum thrives well,
as does the Cherry, being grafted thereon.
{Damsons of America.}
The American Damsons are both black and white, and about the Bigness of
an European Damson. They grow any where, if planted from the Stone or Slip;
bear a white Blossom, and are a good Fruit. They are found on the Sand-Banks
all along the Coast of America. I have planted several in my Orchard,
that came from the Stone, which thrive well amongst the rest of my Trees.
But they never grow to the Bigness of the other Trees now spoken of.
These are plentiful Bearers.
There is a third sort of Plum about the Bigness of the Damson.
The Tree is taller, seldom exceeding ten Inches in Thickness.
The Plum seems to taste physically, yet I never found any Operation it had,
except to make their Lips sore, that eat them. The Wood is something porous,
but exceeds any Box, for a beautiful Yellow.
{Winter Currant.}
There is a very pretty, bushy Tree, about seven or eight Foot high,
very spreading, which bears a Winter-Fruit, that is ripe in October.
They call 'em Currants, but they are nearer a Hurt. I have eaten
very pretty Tarts made thereof. They dry them instead of Currants.
This Bush is very beautiful.
{Bermudas Currants.}
The Bermudas Currants grow in the Woods on a Bush, much like
the European Currant. Some People eat them very much; but for my part,
I can see nothing inviting in them, and reckon them a very indifferent Fruit.
{April Currants.}
We have another Currant, which grows on the Banks of Rivers,
or where only Clay hath been thrown up. This Fruit is red,
and gone almost as soon as come. They are a pretty Fruit
whilst they last, and the Tree (for 'tis not a Bush) they grow upon,
is a very pleasant Vegetable.
{Red Haws.}
The Haw-thorn grows plentifully in some parts of this Country.
The Haws are quite different from those in England, being four times as big,
and of a very pleasant agreeable Taste. We make no use of this Plant,
nor any other, for Hedges, because Timber is so plentiful at present.
In my Judgment, the Honey-Locust would be the fittest for Hedges;
because it is very apt to shoot forth many Sprouts and Succours
from the Roots; besides, it is of a quick Growth, and very prickly.
