Penfyhania, Philadelphia. 125 



Several forts of Vines likewifc grow 

 wild hereabouts. Whenever I made a lit- 

 tle excurlion out of town, I faw them in 

 numerous places climbing up trees and 

 hedges. They clafp around them, and co- 

 ver them fometimes entirely, and even 

 hang down on the fides. This has the fame 

 appearance at a diftance, as the tendrils of 

 hops climbing along trees. I enquired of 

 Mr. Bartram why they did not plant vine- 

 yards, or prefs wine from the grapes of the 

 wild vine. But they anfwered, that the 

 fame objection lay againft it, which lies 

 againft the eredion of a filk manufadure, 

 that the neceffary hands were too fcarcc, 

 and it therefore was more rational to make 

 agriculture their chief employment. But 

 the true reafon undoubtedly is, that the 

 wine which is preffed out. of moft of the 

 North American wild grapes is four and 

 iharp, and has not near fuch an agreeable 

 tafte, as that which is made from European 

 grapes. 



The Virginian Wake- robin, ox Arum Vir- 

 ginicum, grows in wet places. Mr. Bar- 

 tram told me, that the favages boiled the 

 fpadix and the hrries of this flower, and 

 devoured it as a great dainty. When the 

 berries are raw, they have a harfli, pungent 



tafte. 



