6o The Hijlory of BookI. 



It thrives extreamly in a fat foil, foit be light and fomewhat 

 oioift : it is planted in trenches made at equal diftances one 

 from another, either with a Hoe, or a Plow, about half afoot 

 deep : Having there laid the Canes, being ripe they cover 

 them with earth, and a little while after out of every knot 

 {hoots forth a root, and out of that a ftem which produces a 

 new Cane. As foon as it appears above ground, it muft be 

 carefully weeded all about, that the weeds choak it not : but 

 as foon as it hath cover'd the ground it fecures it felf, and keeps 

 its footing as well as any Copfe-wood might do, anditmaylaft 

 fifty years without being renew'd, fothe main rootbefound 

 and not injured by the worm 3 for if there be any jealoufie of 

 that, the remedy is to take up the whole Plant as foon as may 

 be, and to order it all anew. 



Though the Canes be ripe at the end of nine or ten moneths* 

 yet will they not be any way prejudic'd if continu'd in the 

 ground two years, nay fbmetimes three, after which they de- 

 cay : But the beft and fureft way is to cut them every year as 

 neer the ground as may be, and below the laft knot or joynt. 



Thofe who crofs the Fields when thefe Canes are come to 

 maturity may refrefh themfelves with the juke of them., 

 which is an excellent beverage, and hath the fame tafte with 

 the Sugar : But if it be taken immoderately it may occafion 

 fluxes and loofenefs, efpecially to fuch as are newly come inio> 

 the Country } for thofe who by a long abode there a*c in 

 a manner naturaliz'd , are not fo fubjecc to that incon- 

 venience. 



There growalfoin fbme of thefe Iflands thofe neat and pre- 

 cious Canes which are us'd in walking , naturally marbled, 

 andenamell'd with feveral figures. ^Thc lides of great Ponds, 

 and all Fenny and Marfhy places are alfo furnilh'd with a big 

 fort of Reeds which grow up very high and very ftrak, where- 

 of the Inhabitants commonly make the partitions of their 

 Houfes, and ufe them inftead of Lats, for the covering of them. 

 The Indians alio make ufe of the tops of thefe Canes in the 

 making of their Arrows. 



CHAP- 



