342 November 1748. 



When a part of a wood is deftined for 

 cultivation, the faffafras trees are commonly 

 left upon it, becaufe they have a very 

 thick foliage, and afford a cool (hade to 

 the cattle, during the great heats. Several 

 of the Swedes, W2i{h and fcour the veffels 

 in which they intend to keep cyder, beer 

 or brandy, with water m which the fafl'a- 

 fras root or its peel has been boiled ; which 

 they think renders all thofe liquors more 

 wholefome. Some people get their bed- 

 pofts made of faffafras wood, in order to 

 expel the bugs ; for its flrong fcent it is 

 faid prevents thofe vermin from fettling in 

 them. For two or three years together 

 this has the defired effed j or about as long 

 as the wood keeps its flrong aromatic fmell; 

 but after that time it has been obferved to 

 lofe it effeft. A joiner fbewed me a bed, 

 which he had made for himfelf, the pofls of 

 which were of faffafras wood, but as it was 

 ten or twelve years old, there were fo many 

 bugs in it, that it feemed likely, they 

 would not let him fleep peaceably. Some 

 EngUJhmen related, that fome years ago it 

 had been cuflomary in London, to drink a 

 kind of tea of the flowers of faffafras, be- 

 caufe it was looked upon as very falutary ; 

 but upon recolledting that the fame potion 

 'Vvas much ufed agaiiifl the venereal difeafe, 



it 



