62 September 1748. 



well known that the rattle fnake does the' 

 fame. 



I WALKED out to day into the fields in 

 order to get more acquainted with the 

 plants hereabouts, I found feveral European 

 and even Swedijh Tp\2inis among them. But 

 thofe which are peculiar to America, are 

 much more numerous 



The Virginian maple grows in plenty on 

 the Ihores of the Delatvare. The Englijh 

 in this country call it either Buttonwood, 

 or Waterbeech, which latter name is mod 

 ufual. The Swedes call it Wattenbok, or 

 Wajbok. It is Ijinnceus% Platanus occidentalism 

 See Catejbys^zt. Hift. oi Carolina, vol. i. 

 p. 56. t. 56. It grows for the greatefl part in 

 low places, but efpecially on the edge of 

 rivers and brooks. But thefe trees are 

 eafiiy tranfplanted to more dry places, if 

 they be only filled with good foil ; and as 

 their leaves are large and their foliage 

 thick, they are planted about the houfes 

 and in gardens, to afford a pleafant fliade 

 in the hot feafon, to the enjoyment of 

 which fome feats were placed under them. 

 Some of the Swedes had boxes, pails, and 

 the like, made of the bark of this tree by 

 the native Americans. They fay that thofe 

 people whilft they were yet fettled here, 

 made little diflies of this bark for gathering 



whort- 



