[ 38i ] 
is prodigious ; and what adds to its value is, that rich 
land is not neceffary for its cultivation, as light fandy 
land, of fmall value, will produce vafl: crops of if. 
Befides what the negroes cultivate for their own ufe, 
fome planters raife a confiderable quantity of it, for 
the feeding of fwine and poultry, which are very fond 
of the ground peafe j and, when they are permitted 
to eat freely of them, foon become fat. 
Mr. Brownrigg, from whom, as I before men- 
tioned, I received the oil, confiders the expreffing oil 
from the ground peafe, as adifcoveryof his own: 
it may, perhaps, at this time, be very little pradlifed 
either in North Carolina, the place of his refidence, or 
elfewhere. But certain it is, that this oil was ex- 
preffed above fourfcore years ago ; as Sir Hans Sloane 
mentions it, in the firft volume of his Hiflory of Ja- 
maica ; and fays, that this oil is as good as that of 
almonds. It is probable, however, that fmall quan- 
tities only were expreffed, and that even at that time 
the knowledge of it did not extend very far. Mr. 
Brownrigg therefore is highly praife- worthy in reviv- 
ing the remembrance of procuring oil from thefe 
feeds. It is obtained, by firfl bruifing the feeds very 
well, and afterwards prefling them in canvas bags, as 
is ufual in procuring oil from almonds or linfeed. 
To have the oil in the befl: manner, no heat fliould 
be ufed. The heating the cheeks of the prefs increafes 
the quantity of the oil, but leflbns its goodnefs, where 
it may be intended to be ufed as food, or as a medi- 
cine. For other purpofes, the larger quantity of oil, 
obtained by heat, will anfwer equally well. 
Neither the feeds nor oil are apt to become rancid 
by keeping j and as a proof of this, the oil before you, 
7 which 
