vated, with their variation from local caufes; collect all the various names of the fame fruit, and fix one as national, to prevent a confufion that often fruftrates information both foreign and domestic. Fish-ponds are useful decorations in places diftant from lakes and rivers. I have often wondered why this advantage is not derived from ponds and streams which are so common: a useless and unwholesome swamp may thus be changed into an elegant improvement. A German author has wrote a valuable treatise on the fish-ponds of Bohemia. The subject has also been well treated by feveral œconomical writers of Sweden: in. which country fish-ponds of all kinds are very common... ARTICLE, Phyfico Mathemacical enquiries. Machines for abridging human labour are especially defired in America, as there can be no competition between them and the arms of induftrious labour, while these have full employ on her extensive lands; which must be the case for ages. Agriculture has the first claim to the exertions of mechanical genius, as the principal source of national profperity. Extent of territory, improved by artificial industry, muft yield a great quantity of products at fo cheap a rate, as to bear exportation to very distant markets. It is moreover a weighty confideration to the humane philofopher, that agricultural mechanism would in the Southern states supply the labour of flaves. Among important defiderata we may place theseA machine for fowing broad-caft, so as to spread the grain even and in proper quantity: another for cutting drains, and making banks on our extensive marsh-meadows: an apparatus for clearing new lands; which ought to be a compound of coulters, faws, axes," and screws; so that the trees may be pulled out of the ground, cut in convenient pieces, and heaped: a better inftrument for reaping than the common fickle, fuch f. e. as the cradling feythe of Northern Europe: temporary fheds of eafy and light conftruction for the prefervation of the reaped grain in wet feafons. The many shipwrecks that happen on the extenfive, and often stormy coaft of this country render diving bells very neceffary; these machines are yet but little-known. A plenty of naval ftores, and numerous ports render fhip-building an important branch of national industry. This noble art, which has long been cultivated with fuccefs, would ftill be much improved by more expeditious modes of hauling timber, and of preparing the main pieces for the finishing workmanship. An An extenfive inland navigation by locks and canals, is now become a great object of legislative care in feveral states; it is to be hoped, that fuch perfons may be entrusted with these important works; as have a perfect theory of hydraulics, and a practical knowledge of local circumstances, among which the force of ice in winter, and of rainy torrents in fummer, are to be duly estimated. As many new towns and villages will gradually rife with the encreafing population of the country, their fituation and form should be chofen with a view to permanent circumftances. A fure fupply of water is one great object. If the advantage of ports is defired, enquiry fhould be made whether the prefent water-courfes are likely to continue; as in the old countries, several towns have been immerfed, and others left far within land, by the encreafe or diminution of the water, or by the change of the channels. Health and conveniency require feveral open fquares, wide ftreets, and a direction of them calculated for shelter in the winter, and for fhade and ventilation in the fervent fummer months. Our architecture claims the following remarks-The pofition of houses ought to fecure the fanning fummer breeze, and exclude the wintry blaft. Another object fhould be to exclude from fummer-rooms, the burning fun, during the hotter part of the day. Entries throughout the house are very common, but not generally in directions that best answer these purposes. The length, and by frequent intervals, severity of winter in the northern and middle ftates, makes warm rooms not only agreeable, but in a degree neceffary. For this purpose the most improved chimneys and iron-stoves are inadequate expedients: efpecially as the open kind of thefe, though the more pleafant, yet confume a great quantity of wood. The ftoves, which have long been in ufe through Sweden, and a part of the neighbouring countries, are unquestionably the best ever yet devised: they warm the room uniformly, with a quarter of the wood required for these last mentioned; are free from any disagreeable steams; and have the appearance of elegant furniture*. Larger farms require feveral buildings; efpecially in cold countries, where ftore-houses, and warm dwellings for domeftic animals are neceffary. If all these ftructures are formed on regular plans calculated for the values of eftates, and refpective local circumstances, the ufeful and agreeable may be united They are conftructed by an iron grate-work, and panes of a fine clay fitted therein, which are varnished according to tafte and ability. At Bethlehem, in Pennsylvania, an inferior kind of thefe are already in ufc. united in a very high degree: a well-written treatise on this subject, would be very valuable. To form with speed and conveniency a tolerably accurate map of the United States, aftronomical obfervations ought to determine the latitude and longitude of those places, which are most effential to the figure of the whole country, or to the fituation of certain parts in a political, and œconomical view. Exact furveys of private eftates are indifpenfible for the fecurity of landed property: from a defect of fuch many law-fuits have originated and will enfue for years. I omit what is the province of government in this matter; and only fuggeft a wish, that a small treatife on the fur-vey of woodlands might be compofed; as the best English guides, being calculated for an open country, do not particularly attend to this branch... 4. ARTICLE, Inquiries in Natural Hiftory. Natural hiftory, like a faithful guide, leads us through the mysterious mazes of nature, and opens to our enraptured eye her fublime and beautiful wonders. How many precious plants are as despicable weeds trod under foot in every part of the world! How many new qualities are from time to time difcovered in productions, which have been known for centuries in countries long ago perluftrated with this facred lamp! what treasures may we not then expect in this new and vast division of the globe! in the forests of a thousand miles hitherto traversed only by favage tribes, and mercenary traders; in our lakes, fome of which are inland-feas; and rivers that wander through feveral ftates before they meet the ocean!* neglect of natural hiftory under circumftances fo alluring would indicate a want of rational taste. I often heard the great Linnæus wish that he could have explored the continent of North America; may this with animate American philofophers. The vegetable realm claims our firft.attention. Let us begin with a research of the ftores it offers for the preservation and recovery of health. The frequent appearance of trees, shrubs, and plants, whose taste and fcent, or analogy with well known pharmaceutics, is very promifing, would lead us to expect a very confiderable stock of native Materia-Medica. But, although above an hundred of thefe fpecies are, or have been, more or less in use among the inhabitants, † very few of them are The United States extend from the Atlantic to Miffiffippi, and from Florida to Canada; taking in half of the great lakes, and of all the rivers, by the boundary-line. † Indefinite calculation from written and verbal accounts, with perfonal observation.- are well known as to the extent and peculiarity of their qualities, and a very small number is adopted either by the apothecaries, or regular phyficians. On this view the following expedients merit attention-to fubftitute indigenous medicines of equal value for thofe imported, which by quantity or price caufe a great national expenfe; and that are liable to adulteration, or depreciation by age: to point out the best native plants in local districts, with fixed names, clear defcriptions, and accurate medical inftructions, for fafe convenient and general ufe: to appreciate the merit of those drugs, which are esteemed fpecifics in the worst epidemic or particular distempers. Collecting all the botano-medical information at present attainable, we may judge what plants are most interesting, in what degree they are known, and how this knowledge may probably be most improved*—the Indians have several remedies againft the diseases and accidents arifing from the climate, and their favage mode of life; as fevers, rheumatism, wounds, bruises, fcalding, chillblains, bite of venomous ferpents; befides emetics, cathartics, fudorifics, and dietics. These have the fanction of time and fimplicity. It is alfo generally believed, that they poffefs very important fecrets, of which only a few extraordinary specimens are related with plaufible authenticity—In domeftic practice, particularly of the country people, we obferve medical plants of general falubrity, used as detergents, tonics, fudorifics, and laxatives; and others of particular virtue in rheumatism, fevers, pectoral ailments, visceral obstructions, ulcers, external hurts, poifons, female complaints, and diseases of children. Among the great number of these popular drugs, particular attention is due to thofe that are recommended by their falutary effects, attested by the patients or other perfons of credit; and more so, when the testimonial is attended with a precise statement of facts. In cafe of defective information, we may expect valuable qualities in those which are in vogue over large districts; because this general esteem cannot be owing to imitation in a country, where intercourfe between diftant places has till of late been very limited, and where botanical curiosity is yet very rare.-The medical plants we have in common with other countries, poffefs the fame virtue, under variations from climate and local circumftances; the too common opinion of their inferiority See materia medica Americana potiffimuni regni vegetabilis, by David Schoeph, printed in Germany 1787. The author has great merit in collecting the accounts of preceding writers, whofe authority he cites, with addition of popular information received," and personal remarks made during his refidence and travels in this country. ority will often be changed by a fair trial. Different fpecies alfo promise a reward of examination from the generic fimilarity: when thefe are actually in use among the people of this country, the probability of their value is the greater. An application of these principles will bring the following plants to our particular notice-Agrimony, Potentilla-quinquefolium, Polygonumbiftorta, Gentiana, Fumaria, Angelica, Cochlearia, Eryfimum officinale, Arum, Symphitum, Jnula campana, Afarum, all grow in the northern and middle states; and are the fame with, or near a-kin to those claffed among the best fimples by Dr. Cullen in his Materia Medica*. The gentiana growing in the glades of Pennsylvania, is by Dr. Sch. esteemed the best of our several species. The Arum of North America is generally called Indian turnep, from its ancient value among the Indians; and often used with other ingredients by the country people, in that general debility, confequent on tedious fevers.-The best recommended remedies against intermittent fevers, are Cornus florida, Dogwood; Quercus phellos, Live-oak; Perfimon; Lonicera fymphoricarpos; by their barks: Pyrola maculata, with the Indian name pipfiffeva: Sambucus canadenfis : Laurus aftivalis, Spicewood, Benjamin-tree, Benzoin. The firft is more generally known: a decoction of the bark has in many cases been effectual; it is by fome deemed equal, when fresh, to the Peruvian :† The fecond is much valued in the south, its native place: that of Perfimon in North Carolina; and of Lonicera Symphoricarpos in Virginia.‡ An infufion of the plant Pyrola maculata has been frequently used for fome years in Pennsylvania, under the name of pipfifeva. § The Sambucus canadenfis, Red berry elder, is by the Indians called the fever-bush; a decoction of its wood and buds being of ancient renown among them.¶ The laurus àftivalis, Spicewood, Benjamin-tree, is also distinguished with that name by the people in the northern parts, for the falutary decoction of its wood and leaves. The bark of the Liriodendron, Tulip-tree, is alfo very generally esteemed a good substitute for the peruvian: especially that of the root. We may obferve on these and other febrifuges, that * Confer this book with Dr. Schoeph's, and John Bartram's notes to Short's Medicina Britannica, reprinted in Philadelphia, 1751. + Kalm fays that in Wett-Jersey many were cured by the bark of the root, who had in vain tried the peruvian: in that fickly country, I have myself made use of it, and think it worthy of a full trial. Called St. Peter's wort, Indian currants; a fpecies of honey fuckle; fee Arbust. Amer. of Marshal. See ditto: a fpecies of winter green. Gefchichte der Miffion der Evangelifchen Brüder unter den Jndianern in Nord America, by Lofkiel, publifhed 1787. Memoirs of the American Academy etc. printed in Boston, 1785. |