114 October 1748. 



the planks, which are put horizontally, and of 

 which the enclofures in the environs of Pbiladd- 

 f/jia chiefly confift, are of the red cedar wood, 

 which is here reckoned more durable than any 

 other. But where this could not be got, either 

 white or black oak fupplied its place. The peo- 

 ple were likewife very glad if they could get ce- 

 dar wood for the ports, or elfe they took white 

 oak, or chefnut, as I was told by Mr. Barf ram. 

 But it feems that that kind of wood in general 

 does not keep well in the ground for a confide- 

 rable time. I faw fome pofts made of chefnut 

 wood, and put into the ground only the year be- 

 fore, whicfh were already, for the greateft part, 

 rotten below. 



THE Sqffafras tree, or Laurus Sqffqfras Linn. 

 grows in abundance in the country, and ftands 

 fcattered *up and down the woods, and near 

 bufhes and enclofures. On old grounds, which 

 are left uncultivated, it is one of the firft that 

 comes up, and is as plentiful as young birches 

 are on thofe Swedijh fields, which are formed by 

 burning the trees which grew on them.* The 

 Saflafras grows in a dry loofe ground, of a pale 

 brick colour, which confifts, for the greateft part, 

 of fand, mixed with fome clay. It feems to be 

 but a poor foil. The mountains round Gothen- 

 burgh, in Sweden, would afford many places rich 



* IN Mr. OJbeck's Voyage to Cblna> Vol. i. p. 50. in a note, 

 an account is given of this kind of land, which the Swedes call 

 S&tftieland where it is obferved, that the trees being burnt, their 

 afhes afford manure fufficient for three years, after which they are 

 left uncultivated again, till, after twenty or more years, a new ge- 

 neration of trees being produced on them, the country people burn 

 them, and cultivate the country for three years again. F. 



enough 



