176 Gaultheria procumbens. 
ture of peat earth; and that it flowers and bears fruit in that country 
most part of the year. 
An interesting fact has been mentioned to me by Joseph Ball, 
Esq. of this city, which merits further enquiry. It is, that the deer 
are extremely fond of the berries of this plant, and that they eagerly 
devour them wherever they are found. He further informs me, 
that it is a common opinion among the country people, to whom 
this fact is well known, that the peculiar and delicate flavour of ve- 
nison is owing to this favourite food of the animal. Upon adverting 
to the geographical range of the Gaultheria, I find that it is one of 
the commonest plants in those sections of our country where the 
deer are found ; and one of the common names of the plant through- 
out the United States, Deer-berry, is sufficient evidence of the fact, 
that it is a favourite article of food for that animal. It might not 
be uninteresting to try the effect of these berries, as food, upon sheep, 
or other animals prepared in their young state for our tables. It is 
now, I Hagliers, nes doubted. that the apenas delicacy « of, ‘hed flesh of 
to nite feeding upon » the Vallisneria Sinbeichnes om shanibel: 
weedy; for when so situated as to be deprived of the opportunity of 
feeding on this article, the flesh loses that delicious flavour for which 
| it is otherwise so remarkable, 
