OF LANCASTER COUNTY. 61 



not foul, tliick, black weather, as our nortli-east winds bring with tliem 

 in England; but a sky as clear as in summer, and the air dry, cold, 

 piercing and hungry; yet I remember not that I wore more cloaths 

 than \\\ England. The reason of this cold is given, from the great lakes, 

 that are fed by the fountains of Canada. The Winter before was as mild, 

 scarce any ice at all ; while this, for a few days, froze up our great river 

 Delaioare. From that month to the month called June, we enjoyed a 

 sweet Spring; no gusts, but gentle showers, and a fine sky. Yet, this 

 I observe, that the winds here, as there, are more inconstant. Spring and 

 Fall, upon that turn of nature, than in Summer or Winter. From thence 

 to this present month, (August) which endeth the summer, (commonly 

 speaking) Ave have had extraordinary heats, yet mitigated sometimes by 

 cool breezes. The wind that ruleth the Summer season is the south- 

 west; but Spring, Fall and Winter, it is rare to want the north-western 

 seven days together. And whatever mists, fogs or vapours foul the 

 heavens, by easterly or southerly Avinds, in tAVO hours time are blown 

 aAvay; the one is folloAved by the other: a remedy that seems to have a 

 peculiar providence in it, to the inhabitants ; the multitude of trees yet 

 standing, being liable to retain mists and vapours ; and yet not one-quarter 

 so thick as I expected. 



V. " The natural produce of the country, of vegetables, is trees, fruits, 

 plants, floAA^ers. The trees of most note, are the black Avalnut, cedar, 

 cypress, chesnut, poplar, gum-Avood, hickory, sassafras, ash, beech, and 

 oak of divers sorts, as, red Avhite and black; Spanish, chesnut, and 

 SAvamp, the most durable of all. Of all Avhich there is plenty for the use 

 of man. 



" The fruits, that I find in the Avoods, are the Avhite and black mul- 

 berry, chesnut, Avalnut, plums, straAvberries, cranberries, hurtleberries, 

 and grapes of divers sorts. The great red grape (now ripe) called by 

 ignorance, the /ox grape., because of the relish it hath Avith unskilful pal- 

 ates, is in itself an extraordinary grape; and by art, doubtless, may be 

 cultivated to an excellent Avine, if not so sAveet, yet little, inferior to the 

 Froritiniac, as it is not much unlike in taste, ruddiness set aside ; which, 

 in such things, as Avell as mankind, differs the case much. There is a 

 Avhite kind of Muskadel, and alittle black grape, like the cluster grape of 

 England, not yet so ripe as the other ; l)ut they tell me, Avhen ripe, 

 SAveeter, and that they onl}^ Avant skilful Vinerons, to make good use of 

 them. I intend to venture on it Avith my Froichmaii, this season, Avho 

 shcAvs some knoAvledge in those things. Here are also peaches very 

 good, and in great quantities; not an Indian plantation Avithout them; 

 but Avhether naturally here at first I knoAV not. IIoAA^ever, one may have 

 them, by bushels, for little: they make a pleasant drink; and I think, 

 not inferior to any peach a'ou have in Engkmd, except the true Neiving- 



