120 KALM'S ENGLAND. 



it, after which they did not get such troublesome paralysis, 

 although commonly the sad future consequence was 

 that he who drank Punch generally became very palsied, 

 darrande, in his old age. 



[T. I. p. 424.] The 25th May, 1748. 



Gramina perennia nog rara uti Virginien. Peren- 

 nial grasses rare enough in Virginia. Dr. Mitchel, who had 

 lived a very long time in Virginia and North America* told 

 me that perennial grasses are there very rare. The 

 grasses that are mostly found there are generally gramina 

 annua, which sow themselves every year. For this 

 reason he said he was disposed to have a large number 

 of seeds of gramina perennia collected here, and sent over 

 to Virginia to be sown there. For the rest, he said that 

 the grass in Virginia has not the beautiful vivid and 

 green colour [T. I. p. 425] that it has here in Europe, but 

 the colour of the grass is there brownish, and not so 

 grateful to the eye. 



* With reference to the " Dr. Mitchel " who has been so frequently 

 mentioned : — 



John Mitchel, MD, F.R S., emigrated to America early in the 18th 

 century, returned to England in 1748, and died in America 1772. He was 

 the author of various Botanical, Zoological, and Medical books, but is best 

 known for his excellent map of America, which was published in 1755. It 

 has been often used in boundary negotiations, and is still regarded as an 

 authority. [F. W. L.] 



