2 8 July 1749. 



woods of all North- America. The French 

 call it cerfeuti ' fauvage, and make ufe of it 

 in fpring, in green foups, like chervil. It 

 is univerfally praifed here as a wholefome, 

 antifcorbutic plant, and as one of the beft 

 which can be had here in fpring. 



THE Afclepias Syriaca, or, as the French 

 call it 3 le Cotonier, grows abundant in the 

 country, on the fides of hills which 

 ]y near rivers and other fituations, as well 

 in a dry and open place in the woods, as 

 in a rich, loofe foil. When the ftalk is 

 cut or broken it emits a la&efcent juice, 

 and for this reafon the plant is reckoned 

 in fome degree poifonous. The French 

 in Canada nevenhelefs ufe its tender fhoots 

 in fpring, preparing tbem like afparagus ; 

 and the ufe of them is not attended with 

 any bad confcquences, as the (lender fhoots 

 have not yet had time to fuck up any 

 thing poifonous. Its flowers are very odo- 

 riferous, and, when in feafon, they fill the 

 woods with their fragrant exhalations, and 

 make it agreeable to travel in them; efpe- 

 cially in the evening. The French in Ca- 

 nada make a fugar of the flowers, which 

 for that purpofe are gathered in the morn- 

 ing, when they are covered all over with 

 dew. This dew is expreffed, and by boil- 

 jing yields a very good brown, palatable 



fugar. 



