BOOK HI. CHAP. VIII. 703 



patience of the planter. It feem? particularly fond of a white marley, 

 or ch;i!ky foil, having a fiiallow fiirflice of mould, and of the roi.ky 

 lands, which can fcarcely be put to any other ufe; but it requires re- 

 freOiing fliowcrs in its infunt ftate, and, therefore, is trained with diffi- 

 culty in the mofl: Southern hills near the coaft. It grows luxuriantly, 

 and bears well, in every richer mould, on a gravellv fubitrate, and 

 rarely fails expcftation, planted any where, except the parts mentioned; 

 but when cultivated in places which are fubje(ft to drought, the berries 

 (and TDoX. young plants brought from inland mountains) Ihould be let 

 immediately before the autumnal feafons. 



It flowers in June, July, and Auguft; but in fevcral pl.ces fooner 

 or later, according to their lituation, and diflcrent feafons for rain; and 

 after it flowers, the fruit foon ripens, though earlier in open grounds, 

 than in thick woods. It is generally gathered in July, whil.; green; 

 for if the berries are fuffered to remain till they are full ripe, they will 

 not cure. They are, when ripe, of a dark purple colour, and full of a 

 fweet pulp, which the birds devour greedily, and muting the feeds af- 

 terwards, propagate thefe trees in all parts of the woods. It is thought 

 that the feeds paffing through them in this manner, undergo fome fer- 

 mentation, which fits them better for vegetating, than thofe gathered 

 immediately from the tree ; and I believe this is the fadl:, for the ripe 

 berries will take with more certainty, after being laid together fomc few 

 days to fweat, than when immediately put in the ground, or kept fe- 

 parate till the pulp is dried. 



They are gathered in their green ftate, by twiftlng off the twigs ei- 

 ther with the hand, or a pole cleft at one end. The berries are then 

 feparated from the leaves, and other particles, and laid on cloths fpread 

 over the barbacues, or terraced floors railed a little above the furface of 

 the ground, inclolcd with an upright ledge of eight or ten inches in 

 height, and divided by tranfVerle partitions into four or more fquare 

 compartmer.t?, that each may contain a day's picking. During the 

 lirft and fecond day they are turned often, that the v»hole may be more 

 cxpofed to the fun ; but when they begin to dry, they are frequently 

 winnowed, and laid in cloths to prcferve them better from rain and 

 dews, iViU expofing them to the fun every day, and removing under 

 cover every evening, till they are fufficiently dried, which ulually hap- 

 pens in tenor twelve days, and is known by the darknefs of their com- 

 2 plexion. 



