2S2 A VOYAGE TO Book V. 



|}art of the known world: the equability of its air ex- 

 empts it from any fenfible changes, whereby the plants, 

 corn, and trees, are ftripped of their verdure and or- 

 naments, their vegetative pov/ers checked, and them- 

 felves reduced to a torpid inadlivity. The fertility of 

 this country, if fully defcribed, would appear to many 

 incredible, did not the confideration of the equality 

 and benignity of the climate inforce its probability. 

 For both the degrees of cold and heat are here fo hap- 

 pily determined, that the moitlure continues, and the 

 earth feld^m fails of being cherifhed by the ferdliz- 

 ing beams of the fun, fome part of every day ; and 

 therefore it is no wonder that this country fhould 

 enjoy a greater degree of fertility than thofe where the 

 fame caufes do not concur , efpecially if we confider, 

 that there is no fenfible difference throughout the 

 year ; fo that the fruits and beauties of the feveral 

 feafons are here feen at the fame time. The curious 

 European obferves, with a pleafing admiration, that 

 whilft fome herbs of the field are fading, others of 

 the fame kind are fpringing up ; and whilft fome 

 flowers are lofing their beauty, others are blowing, to 

 continue the enameled profped. When the fruits 

 have obtained their maturity, and the leaves begin 

 to change their colour, freih leaves, blofToms, and 

 fruits, are feen in their proper gradations on the fame 

 tree. 



The fame incelTant fertility is confpicuous in the 

 corn, both reaping and fowing being carried on at the 

 fame time. That corn which has been recently fown 

 is cording up; that v^hich has been longer fown is in 

 its blade, and the more advanced begins to blof- 

 fom. So that the declivities of the neighbouring hills 

 exhibit all the beauties of the four feafons at one fin- 

 gie view. 



Though all this is generally feen, yet there is a fettled 

 time for the grand harvefl. But fometimes the moft 

 Hvourable feafon for fowing in one place, is a month 



ox 



