THE FLORA OF COLONIAL DAYS. 81 



that one of the chiefest doctors of England was wont to 

 say, 'God conld have made, bnt God never did make a 

 better berry.' In some parts where natives have planted, 

 I have man}^ times seen as many as would fill a good ship 

 within a few miles compass." In September, 1629, 

 Master Graves sent a letter to Enghmd in which he wrote 

 at length of the fertility of the soil. " The grass and 

 weeds," he said, "grow np to a man's face in the lowlands 

 and by fresh rivers al)nndance of grass and large meadows, 

 without any tree or shrub to hinder the scythe. " He 

 speaks of the grapes, — "some I have seen four inches 

 about. " 



William Bradford, Governor of Plymouth Colony, wrote 

 " A Descriptive and Historical Account of New Eng- 

 land " in verse, which has much of interest in this con- 

 nection — 



"Almost ten years we lived here alone — 

 In other places there were few or none ; 

 For Salem was the next of any fame 

 That began to augment New England's name. 

 But after, multitudes began to flow 

 More than well knew themselves where to bestow. 

 Boston then began her roots to spread, 

 And quickly soon she grew to be the head 

 Not only of the Massachus«tts Bay 

 But all trade and commerce fell in her way. 

 And truly it was admirable to know 

 How greatly all things here began to grow, 



' Governor Winthrop arrived at Salem in June of the next year, 1630, and this 

 is the entry in his Journal : — " jiassed through the naiTOw strait between Baker's 

 Isle and Little Isle, and came to an anchor a little within the islands. After Mr. 

 Peirce came aboard us and returned to fetch Mr. Endecott, who came to us about 

 two of the clock and witli him Mr. Skelton and Capt. Levett. We that were of 

 the assistants and some other gentlemen with some of the women and our Cap- 

 tain returned with them to Nahurakeck wliere we supped with a good venison 

 pasty and good beer, and at niglit we returned to our ship. But some of the 

 women stayed behind. In the meantime most of our people went on shore upon 

 the land of Cape Ann which lay very near us and gathered store of fine straw- 

 berries." Wild strawberries still al)ound on the upland along West's Beach. 

 —Editor. 



