The Hiftory of B o o k I. 



the tops they (hoot forth little branches, which bear a flow- 

 er like a fmall Bell, which is of a clear violet colour : And 

 when that flower is dry, there comes into its place a little 

 button, wherein is contained the feed, which is of a brown- 

 i(h colour, and very fmall. 



There are fometimes found under the leaves and branch- 

 es of this Plant the nefts of the little Birds called Celibris, 

 which we Ihall defcribe in its proper place. 



INDICO. 



THe material of which is made the Dying commodity 

 called Indico is got from a Plant which grows not a- 

 bove two foot and a half above the ground : It hath but a 

 fmall leaf, of a grafs-green colour, inclining to yellow when 

 it is ripe : The flower is reddilh : It grows from the feed, 

 which is fown by trenches in a ftreight line : It hath a very 

 bad fcent, quite contrary to that growing in JMadagafcar } \vhich 

 bears Imall flowers of a purple colour mixt with white, which 

 fmell well. 



GINGER. 



OF all the Spices of the Levant that have been planted in 

 America, only Ginger hath thriv'd, and come to perfecti- 

 on. Tis the root of a Plant which grows not much above 

 ground, having green long leaves like thofe of Reeds and Su- 

 gar-canes : The root fpreads it felf, not in depth, but in 

 bredth, and lies neer the furface like a hand encompafs'd by 

 many ringers 5 whence the Inhabitants of the Iflands call it a 

 Paw. This Plant may be propagated by the feed, or, as is 

 moft commonly done, by certain fmall roots which grow like 

 fi>- many firings all about the old ftem and the greater roots, 

 as there do about Skirretts. It grows with eafe in all the I- 

 ilands, efpecially at S. Chrijtophers b many Inhabitants of which 

 liland have planted wj and traded in it with advantage, fince 

 Tobacco came to fo low a rate. 



POTATOE. 



THe Potatoe is a root much like the Saligots growing in 

 Gardens, which are called Topinambous*, or Jerufalem 

 Artichokes, but of a much more excellent tafte, and more 

 wholfome. : > 1 to 



Thofe Topinamhous or- Artichokes-, which are now not only 

 very common in moft parts!, but che^p/ and flighted, as being a 

 tteatment for the poorer fort A were heretofore accounted de- 

 licacies: For in fome extraordinary Entertainments made at 



Paris 



5<S 



