76 TRAVELS IN THE CONFEDERATION 



pounds of raw seed give about i pound wool. The 

 wool, with the seed in, was formerly sold here and in 

 North Carolina at 4-6-8 pence the pound. 



Cushaws, a sort of gourds, are raised in Virginia in 

 greater quantity and more generally than farther to 

 the north ; they have them black, yellow, and white, and 

 use them for pot-herbs. Perhaps in no other country 

 are all kinds of gourds and melons so much used as in 

 America; in the summer and autumn one can not see 

 without amazement the great quantities of water and 

 other melons brought to market at New York and 

 Philadelphia, as well as eaten in the country or let lie 

 in the fields. The plant recommends itself because, 

 under the warm sun, it does well without much atten- 

 tion or care. For whatever needs more than a little 

 work without producing a great profit is not to the 

 American taste. And so the pleasure of a fine garden 

 is as yet scarcely known in Virginia. Perhaps a few 

 of the most considerable families have made attempts, 

 but commonly the people are satisfied with planting 

 cabbage and turnips in an enclosed space, which goes 

 by the name of a garden, and sticking among them 

 a few uncomely flowers. The Virginians are so much 

 the more at fault for neglecting a matter which might 

 add to the enjoyment of a residence in the country and 

 embellish their places, because their mild winters and 

 warm summers must certainly give them many ad- 

 vantages. In the spring they have pease, beans, and 

 other vegetables by the end of April, or at least, early 

 in May, 6 weeks or two months earlier than in New 

 York. With the passage of time they will indeed learn 

 to make a better use of the advantages of their country 

 than is the case among them at present. Bignonias ap- 



