bZ BULLETIN OF THE ESSEX INSTITUTE. 



New plantations were in each place begun 

 And with inhabitants were filled soon. 

 All sorts of grain which our own land doth yield 

 Was hither brought and sown in every field, 

 As wheat and rye, barley, oats, beans and pease 

 Here all thrive and they profit for their raise. 

 All sorts of roots and herbs in gardens grow, 

 Parsnips, carrots, turnips or what you'll sow. 

 Onions, melons, cucumbers, radishes, 

 Skirets, beets, coleworts and fair cabbages. 

 Here grow fine flowers, many, and 'mongst those 

 The fair, white lily and sweet fragrant rose. 

 Many good wholesome berries here you'll find 

 Fit for man's use almost of every kind. 

 Pears, apples, cherries, plumbs, quinces and peach 

 Are now no dainties, you may have of each, 

 Nuts and grapes of several sorts are here 

 If you wiU take the pains them to seek for." 



It appears somewhat singular and only proves that the 

 colonists knew nothing of the severity of the climate, 

 that they should have thought seriously of planting vine- 

 yards in this region. Vine planters are mentioned in a 

 list that the company were to provide to send to New 

 England.^ In 1634, the yearly rent of Governor's 

 Island in Boston Harbor was a hogshead of wine. That 

 island had been granted to Governor Winthrop on condition 

 that he should plant a vineyard or orchard there. Thomas 

 Leckford spent four years in the country and wrote an 

 article, "Plaine dealing or Newes from New England." 

 He speaks of the land, cattle and grain and mentions one 

 fact which other writers omitted that " the Pease have no 

 wormes at all." July, 1638, there arrived at Boston, 

 John Josselyn, son of Sir Thomas Josselyn of Kent, 

 and brother of Henry Josselyn, Esq., of Black Point, in 



3 Vine planters were to be sent over Feb. l()-28. According to Crartock's letter 

 to Endecott, April 1629, they were to have been Frenchmen but such could not be 

 I'ounil.— Mass. Colony Records, vol. I, p. 24 and p. 390; Suffolk Deeds, Liber I, 

 Folio VI.— Editor. 



