84 The Natural Historg 



Vegetable is so very slow, that it is scarce perceivable in the 

 age of Man, the Experiment having been often try'd in several 

 places where it grows. The Wood of it is very porous and 

 stringey, like some Canes, with the Leaves of this Tree the 

 Berniudians make fine Hats for Women, Baskets, and many 

 pretty Boxes for several uses, which are transported to the 

 [N^orthern parts of America, where this Tree does not grow, 

 and to Great-Britain and Ireland. In North Carolina, this 

 Tree is a Dwarfish kind, and the Planters make of the Fans 

 of this Tree, Brooms to sweep their Houses with, which is 

 all the use I have seen them make of it. 



The Hollow-Canes, or Reeds, such as Angling Rods are 

 made of, and Weavers use for their Reeds, grow in great 

 plenty in many places in this Province, especially in wet low 

 and Swampy Grounds, though there is none to be met with 

 to the northward of James's River in Virginia. They con- 

 tinue green all the year, and are extraordinary good Pastur- 

 age for Cattle and Horses in the Winter, and in the Month of 

 March, when the Planters are obliged by the Laws of the 

 Country to burn off the old Grass in their Fields and Woods, 

 as the Heath is burnt off the Mountains in Ireland, by the 

 Farmers in those Places. They are so very large towards the 

 Heads of the Rivers that one joint will hold a Pint of any 

 Liquor. When they grow old they bear an Ear like Oats, 

 wherein is contain'd their Seeds, exactly like the Grains of 

 Rye (which being boiled is good Meat, and often made use of 

 by the Indians) soon after which they decay both Root and 

 Branch, but the Seeds never fail to grow again. These hol- 

 low Canes are Lodges for vast Numbers of Wild Bcists, 

 which the Indians frequently set on fire to drive them out, 

 by which means they kill vast Numbers of them, and you 

 shall henr these Canes during the time that thoy are buruiu<r 



at 



