194 TRAVELS THROUGH NORTH AMERICA ! 
Jefferson. — Vineyards.—Observations on the 
Culture of the Grape, and the Manufacture 
of Wine . 
Monticello, May, 
HAYING- staid at Richmond somewhat 
longer than a week, which I found absolutely 
necessary,, if it had only been to recruit the 
strength of my horses, that had been half 
starved in coming from Norfolk, I proceeded, 
in a north-westerly direction towards the South¬ 
west or Green Mountains. 
The country about Richmond is sandy, but 
not so much so, nor as flat as on the south side 
of James River towards the sea. It now wore 
a most pleasing aspect. The first week in May 
had arrived; the trees had obtained a consi¬ 
derable part of their foliage, and the air in the 
woods was perfumed with the fragrant smell 
of numberless flowers and flowering shrubs,: 
which sprang up on all sides. The music of 
the birds was also delightful. It is thought 
that in Virginia the singing birds are finer than 
what are to be met with on any other part of 
the continent, as the climate is more congenial 
to them, being neither so intensely hot in sum¬ 
mer as that of the Carolinas, nor so cold in 
♦ v. 
winter as that of the more northern states. 
The notes of the mocking bird or Virginian 
nightingale are in particular most melodious* 
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