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enquiring, wliethcr the cQtton of W'"^?/^'^, whigh is different from 



that raifcd io our iilandsj is not the fame as thi^t of which the Ckin^fi 

 make their fine caliicoes and muflins \ whether the Indian hemp of 



America^ or more probablyj Uie ilik gi'^^fs found in Virgim&'^ 'm noi 

 the fame as the Chincfe Hcrba \ and whether the fiU<:j gathered from 

 the trees in Chin^% of which poyt,s and travellers h^ve told marvel* 

 lous ilorles, is any thing more th^u the cocoonsj which, in many 

 phiceSj are to be found in great plenty, oo our U'ees and bullies. 



The iilk of Chinci feems to be of different fortg^ that of which theh' 



Bandanpea ^nd coarfe illk^ arc niade, is ftrong and harfli ; th^t 

 which they work up into their fine damallvs is foft, but of a weaker 

 thread. Hence it is probable, that they have diiferent fpecies of 

 {jlk-worms. In this part of /(^m^'fica^ differciU kinds of filk-woraii 



are found upon difl\:rt'qt trees and flirubs; the cocoons of fornix of 

 thcni, particularly thofc that feed on the faflafras, are largerj and 



the filk tbey produce, though not fa fine, ig much flronger tlian thfU 



of the Iiahan filk-worm that feeds on tha mulberry. Is there i}Ot 

 rcafon then to believe that, if experiments were made with our own 

 filk'Worms, and fuch as are mod ufeful were pi'opagatedi ihh coun* 



try luight, in a few years, produce plenty of iilks? 



Such of the plants of China as have been introduced hcre^ feem to 

 agree with our foil and climaie, and to tlulve In ii degree cgual tu 

 our warmcft expcc^^taiionsj witnefs the rice^ the whitk Hnd the Cki^ 



nefc vetch- Thefe may encourage us to try other^' From the trials 

 made in our iflands of the fugar cane^ cofl'ee, gingerj &c* there j§ rca- 

 fon to hope, that the fplces of the EaJi^Indic^ may be propagated and 

 cultivated there. 



Thus by introducing the produce of thofe countries^ which lie on 



the caft fide of the old world, and particularly thofe of Chlm^ this 

 country may be improved beyond wliat heretofore might have been 

 expet^ed. And could we be fo fortunate as to introduce the induf* 

 try of the Chlncfcy their arts of living aral improvements in huf^ 

 bandry, as well as their native plants, /Imerica might in time become 

 as populous as China^ which is allowed to contain more inhabitants 

 than any other country, of the fame extent, in the world. 



We have many trees, plants, roots and herbs, to the mrdica! vh'« 

 tues and ufcs of which wc arc ilrangcrs. The fruit of purpcrfimon 

 tree has been ufed, to good purpofcj in brewing becrj but it wa^ not 

 known before the experiment was madC; by order of thi? Society, laft 

 winter, that one bufliel of this fruit will yield above a gallon of proof 



fpirit, of an excellent tafte and flavour. To whal ufes in pharmacy 



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