Albany. 251 



one of the moil fhady trees here. The 

 Water-poplar* is the mofl common tree 

 hereabouts, grows exceedingly well on the 

 fhores of the river, and is as tall as ihe tall- 

 eft of our alps. In fummer it affords the 

 beft fhade for men and cattle againft the 

 feorching heat. On the banks of rivers and 

 lakes it is one of the moft ufeful trees, be- 

 caufe it holds the foil by its exteniive 

 branched roots, and prevents the water from 

 wafhing it away The Water-beech and 

 the Elm- tree (XJlmus) ferve the fame pur- 

 pofe. The wild Prune-trees were plentiful 

 here, and were full of unripe fruit. Its 

 wood is not made ufe of ; but its fruit is 

 eaten. Sumach (T<hiis glabra) is plentiful 

 here ; as alfo the wild vines, which climb 

 up the trees* and creep along the high fhores 

 of the river. I was told, that the grapes 

 ripen very late, though they were already 

 pretty large. 



The American Elm- tree (JJlmus Ameri- 

 cana) formed feveral high hedges. The 

 foil of this ifland is a rich mould, mixed 

 with fand, which is chiefly employed in 

 maize plantations. There were likewife 

 large fields of potatoes. The whole ifland 



was 



* Popuius glandulis varus haft foliorum adnexis, foliu corda- 

 to-dcltoidibus^ acuminatis , J'crrato-angulojls-, utrinque glabris. 

 —An Popuius heterophylla Linnaei ? 



