CLIMATE, 
203 
that which lies towards Richmond; and there 
are many persons that even consider it to be 
the garden of the United States. All the 
productions of the lower part of Virginia may 
be had here., at the same time that the heat 
is never found to be so oppressive; for in the 
hottest months in the year,, there is a freshness 
and elasticity in the air unknown in the low 
country. The extremes of heat and cold 
are found to be 90° and 6° above cipher, but 
it is not often that the thermometer rises 
above 84°, and the winters are so mild in ge¬ 
neral, that it is a very rare circumstance for 
the snow to lie for three days together upon 
the ground. 
The salubrity of the climate is equal also 
to that of any part of the United States; 
and the inhabitants have in consequence a. 
healthy ruddy appearance. The female part 
of the peasantry in particular is totally differ¬ 
ent from that in the low country. Instead of 
the pale, sickly, debilitated beings, whom you 
meet with there, you find amongst these moun¬ 
tains many a one that would be a fit subject 
to be painted for a Lavinia. It is really de¬ 
lightful to behold the groups of females, as¬ 
sembled here, at times, to gather the cherries 
and other fruits, which grow in the greatest 
abundance in the neighbourhood of almost 
every habitation. Their shapes and complex- 
