Vol III. MifcelUnea Curiofa. 3 1 j)r . 



the Work ^ and with three Men in thirteea 

 Days I drained theiKvhole .Swamp, it being 

 Sandy Land, foaks^aM drains admirably well, 

 and what I little expected, laid a Well dry 

 at a confiderable diftance. The Gentlewo- 

 man was in England laft Year, and I think 

 Dr. Moulin was by when (he asked me. Now 

 to teach her how (he might make her Tobac- 

 co that grew in the Swamp lefs, for it pro- 

 duced fo very large, that it was fuipeded to 

 be of the Aranoko kind : I told her, though 

 the complaint was rare, yet there was aa 

 Excellent Remedy for that, in letting every 

 Plant bear eight or nine Leaves inftead of 

 four or five, and fhe would have more To- 

 bacco, and lefs Leaves. Now you mufl: know 

 they top their Tobacco, that is, take away 

 the little top-bud, when the Plant has put 

 forth as many Leaves as they think the 

 Richnefs of the Ground will bring to a Sub- 

 ftance ; but generally when it has Ihot forth 

 four or fix Leaves. And when the top-bud 

 is gone, it puts forth no more Leaves, but 

 Side-branches, which they call Suckers,which 

 they are careful ever to take away, that 

 they may not empoverifli the Leaves. I 

 have been more tedious in the Particulars, 

 the fuUier to evince how reJR)lutc they are 

 and conceitedly bent to follow their old 

 Pradice and Cuftom, rather than to receive 

 Directions from others, tho' plain, eafie, 

 arid advantageous. There are many other 

 Places as eafie to drain as this, tho' of 

 larger extent, and richer Soil, for Ibme of 

 which I have given diredions, and have on- 

 ly had the return perhaps of a flout after- 

 wards 



