Penjyfoania, Philadelphia. 299 



a veflel, in order to make a vinegar : and that 

 which is got by this means is very good. Several 

 people made brandy from thefe grapes, which 

 has a very pleafant tafte, but is ftill more plea- 

 fant, if the fruits of the perfimon are mixed 

 with it. The wood of thefe vines is of no 

 ufe, it is fo brittle that it cannot be ufed for 

 flicks : on cutting into the flem, a white, infipid 

 refin comes out a few hours after the wound is 

 made. In many gardens vines are planted for 

 the purpofe of making arbours, for which they 

 are indeed excellent ; as their large and plentiful 

 leaves form a very clofe cover againft the fcorch- 

 ing heat of the fun. When the vines flower here 

 in May and 'June, the flowers exhale a ftrong, 

 but exceeding pleafant and refrefhing fmell, 

 which is perceptible even at a great diftance. 

 Therefore on coming into the woods about that 

 time, you may judge from the fweet perfume 

 in the air, arifing from the flowers of the vines, 

 that you are near them, though you do not 

 fee them. Though the winters be ever fo fe- 

 vere, yet they do not affedt the vines. Each 

 grape is about the fize of a pea, but further 

 fouthward they are faid to be of the fize of com- 

 mon raifins, and of a finer flavour. Further up 

 in the country, during a part of autumn, they 

 are the chief food of bears, who climb up the 

 trees in order to pluck them. People are of 

 opinion, that if the wild vines were cultivated 

 with more care, the grapes would grow larger, 

 and more palatable. 



December the 5th. I SHALL here mention 

 two prognostics of the weather, which were 



greatly 



