(seq. 336)

Paged wrongly to the end

East Florida

the Plants, which if not done, they chance to be neglected and perish,
and if done, other pressing Business, numerous is setting out a new
Place, must be retarded probably to great Prejudice; therefore to keep
the Air from the Plants and Seeds, is the only Remedy, and cannot be
more effectually executed, than to surround them with Wax or Tallow,
which is attended with many Inconveniences, and Niceties, or preserved Honey;
which on a long Voyage in great Warmth with the Moisture in the plants
and Seeds is apt to ferment, therefore best in Oil, else all the Premises
stop effectually the Pores of the Plants, and keep out the Air. This stopping
of the Pores may seem pernicious, and apt to prevent the Seeds, and Plants
from sprouting in the Ground, when sowed, or planted; but if they are
all carefully wiped, some, if not all Pores disposed by the subterraneous
warm Moisture will swell, and open to give Passage to the Air under
Ground, and require perhaps one or two days more times, than ordinary
to open them all, which the Fatness of the Oil was able to close up, but be=
=comes insufficient to hinder the Air from penetrating, where the Fat has
separated from the Lips of the Pores; besides the Warmth of the Ground (if
dry) will, by Rarification, and Evaporation consume, but if moist by
Coagulation and Contraction dislodge it from the Texture of the Seed's
Husk, or of the plant's Bark.

14. I venture to recommend this Method for preserving the Silk=
=worm Seed (Eggs) from hatching or giving vent to the inclosed worm sooner,
than the Mulberry Trees or Shrubs are sufficiently sprouted and afford the
necessary Quantity of Leaves to feed then; which unhappy Incidents have
proved frequently great Backwardness in the Georgia silk Culture, altho'
the industrious endeavoured for want of Mulberry Leaves to feed them with
young black Berry or Sallad Leaves, but the Worms became sick and died, or
weak, and made very imperfect Cocoons; wherefore many would not take
any Trouble, but let the young Worms perish at once for want of food. The
way of wiping these Seeds or Eggs, when taken out of the Oil, is by mixing
them with fine, and dry ashes, and by moving them mixed with the ahses
on blotting Paper, so long and so often repeated with fresh ashes and paper,
until no Mark of Oil remains in the ashes or on the Paper.
15. I have made above, the most precise and faithful Report of the
SOil and natural Products of East Florida, but am afraid the Descrip=
=tion of the Coast, being the most preferable Place for Health & Conveniency,
will for the Sake of its sandy Disposition, bring Reflection on the whole
COntinent, and discourage those from settling, who would prefer that
Situation