342 November 1748. 



When a part of a wood is deftined for 

 cultivation, the faffafras trees are commonly 

 left upon it, becaufe they have a very 

 thick foliage, and afford a cool fhade to 

 the cattle, during the great heats. Several 

 of the Swedes, warn and fcour the veffels 

 in which they intend to keep cyder, beer 

 Or brandy, with water in which the fafla- 

 fras root or its peel has been boiled; which 

 they think renders all thofe liquors more 

 wholefome. Some people get their bed- 

 pofts made of faflafras wood, in order to 

 expel the bugs -, for its ftrong fcent it is 

 faid prevents thofe vermin from fettling in 

 them. For two or three years together 

 this has the defired effecl: -, or about as long 

 as the wood keeps its ftrong aromatic fmell; 

 but after that time it has been obferved to 

 lofe it effecl:. A joiner fbewed me a bed, 

 which he had made for himfelf, the pofts of 

 which were of faffafras wood, but as it was 

 ten or twelve years old, there were fo many 

 bugs in it, that it feemed likely, they 

 would not let him fleep peaceably. Some 

 Englishmen related, that fome years ago it 

 had been cuftomary in London, to drink a 

 kind of tea of the flowers of faflafras, be- 

 caufe it was looked upon as very falutary; 

 but upon recollecting that the fame potion 

 was much ufed againft the venereal difeafe, 



it 



