

Albany. . 251 



one of the moft fhady trees here. The 

 Water-poplar* is the moft common tree 

 hereabouts, grows exceedingly well on the 

 ihores of the river, and is as tall as the tall- 

 eft of our afps. In fummer it affords the 

 beft {Lade for men and cattle againft the 

 fcorching heat. On the banks of rivers and 

 lakes it is one of the moft ufeful trees, be- 

 caufe it holds the foil by its extenfive 

 branched roots, and prevents the. water from 

 wafliing it away The Water-beech and 

 the Elm-tree (Ulmus) ferve the fame pur- 

 pofe. The wild Prune-trees were plentiful 

 here, and were full of unripe fruit. Its 

 wood is not made ufe of; but its fruit is 

 eaten. Sumach (Rbus glabra) is plentiful 

 here ; as alfo the wild vines, which climb 

 up the trees, and creep along the high fhores 

 of the river. I was told, that the grapes 

 ripen very late, though they were already 

 pretty large. 



THE American Elm- tree (Ulmus Ameri- 

 cana) formed feveral high hedges. The 

 foil of this ifland is a rich mould, mixed 

 with fand, which is chiefly employed in 

 maize plantations. There were likewife 

 large fields of potatoes. The whole ifland 



was 



* Popuius glandulit <variis lapfoliorum adnexi^foliit corda- 

 lo-deltoidibus, actiminatis, ferrato-angulofs^ utrinque glabris* 

 f An Pcpulus heteropbylla Linnaei . ? 



