Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/77

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Buds of each Plant, that the Leaves may be the better, they gather the Leaves when they are at their full growth, and in vigour, and dry them by hanging them up in the shade. The best Tobacco made by the Spaniards in their Plantations is pick'd Leaf by Leaf, with great care that none faulty may be found amongst it. That from the Nuevo Reyno de Granada (corruptly called Verinas, or Tabac de Verine) is reckon'd the best.

Tobacco is likewise planted in other places of the Island, and is of several sorts, from several Seeds: that with the broad Leaves is call'd Bulls Face. There are two sorts from Oronoque, and two Spanish kinds. It is sown in Beds; when the Leaves are about two Inches long, the Plants are drawn, and planted at four Foot distance one way, and three and an half another, then they are kept clean, and when grown about a Foot high, and going to shoot out their Stalks or Tops, the top of the Stalk or Bud is snipt off. That day seven night the Buds rising ex alis foliorum on the sides, are snipt off likewise, and seven days thence the other Under-buds. It stands some time longer, and then the Stalks and Leaves are cut off, hang'd up in a Shed, and if wet weather come, a Fire is made in it to hinder the Corruption of the Tobacco. Some time after the Leaves are stript off and preserv'd in great heaps from the injuries of the Air till 'tis made fit for the Market. It has been made here worth twelve Pence a Pound in England.

The Head of the River Mino is far up from this place, and there is a Lake where I have been told are to be seen great heaps of Snakes roll'd together, who leap into the Water. Abundance of Fish comes from thence. There were a great variety of Water-Melons here in the Spaniards time. The Cows eat them, and dunging, their Seeds, (at this Dry River, where they came to water,) there grew, and were preservd, till perfect neglect lost all their sorts.

Very good Fullers Earth was taken out of a Stratum of the Earth, in sinking a Well here. I did not observe any difference in the Layers of Earth taken out of this Well, from those in England, neither could I find any Shells or Petrefactions amongst the Stones, Clay, Sand, &c. brought up. But I was inform'd, upon enquiry, by Colonel Nedham, an Eye-Witness, that in Barbados at Sir John Colleton's Plantation they dug for a Well, and at forty seven Foot had water, but in dry weather it went away: they dug to fifty, and had water a second time, which dryed away again; after a third digging they came to some Shells, and then into a River, and taking up water they brought up Fish with it. After this their water never decay'd; tho' there wer etwelve [sic] Men perpetually draw-