"The sweet springs are in the county of Botetourt, at the eastern foot of the Alleghany, about 42 miles from the warm springs. They are still less known. Having been found to relieve cases in which the others had been ineffectually tried, it is probable their composition is different. They are different also in their temperature, being as cold as common water; which is not mentioned as a proof, however, of a distinct impregnation. This is among the first sources of James' river. "On Patowmac river, in Berkley county, above the north mountain, are medicinal springs, much more frequented than those of Augusta. Their powers, however, are less; the waters weakly mineralized, and scarcely warm. They are more visited, because situated in a fertile, plentiful, populous country, better provided with accommodations, always safe from the Indians, and nearest to the more populous states. "In Louisa county, &c. are medicinal springs of less note, which are not deserving of particular notice. "We are told of a sulphur spring on Howard's Creek of Greenbriar, and another at Boonsborough on Kentucky. "In the low grounds of the Great Kanhaway seven miles above the mouth of Elk River, and 67 above that of Kanhaway itself, is a hole in the earth of the capacity of 30, or 40 gallons, from which issues constantly a bituminous vapour, in so strong a current, as to give to the sand about its orifice, the motion which it has in a boiling spring. On presenting a torch, or lighted candle within 18 inches of the hole, it flames up into a column 18 inches diameter, and four or five feet in hight, which sometimes burns out in 20 minutes, and at others has been known to burn three days, and then has been still left burning. The flame is unsteady, of the density of that of burning spirits, and smells like burning pit coal. Water sometimes collects in the bason, which is remarkably cold, and is kept in ebullition by the vapour issuing through it. If the vapour be fired in that state, the water becomes so hot that the hand cannot bear it, and evaporates wholly in a short time. This, with the circumjacent lands, is the property of his excellency General Washington, and General Lewis. "There is a similar one on Sandy River, the column of which, when in flame, is about 12 inches, and about three feet high. General Clarke, who informs me of it, kindled the vapour and left it burning, after staying about an hour. "The mention of extraordinary springs, leads me to Syphon fountains. There is one of these near the intersection of the Lord Fairfax's boundary, with the North mountain, not far from Brooks' gap, on the stream of which is a grist mill, which grinds two bushels of grain at every flood of the spring: another near Cow-paster River, a mile and a half, below its confluence with the Bull-paster River, and 16 or 17 miles from the hot springs, which intermits once in every twelve hours; one also near the mouth of the North Holston. "After these, may be mentioned the natural well, on the lands of a Mr. Lewis in Frederick county. It is somewhat larger than a common well: the water rises in it as near the surface of the earth as in the neighbouring artificial wells, and is of a depth as yet unknown. It is said there is a current in it tending sensibly downwards. If this be true, it probably feeds some fountain, of which it is the natural reservoir, distinguished from others, like that of Madison's cave, by being accessible. It is used with a bucket and windlass, as an ordinary well. CHAPTER XXX. A GENERAL SKETCH OF THE TREES, PLANTS, FRUITS, &C. OF VIRGINIA. UNDER this head of natural productions, may be found the following classes, viz. 1st. Medicinal-2d. Esculent3d. Ornamental, and 4th Useful for fabrication-The technical or Linnææn names, will be added, 1. Senna. Cassia ligustrina. Arsmart. Polygonum Sagitatum. Clivers, or goose-grass. Galium spurium Palma Christi. Ricinus. (3.) James-town weed. Datura Stramonium. Mallow. Malva rotundafolia. Syrian mallow. Hibiscus moschentos. Hibiscus Virginicus. Indian mallow. Sida rhombifolia. Sida abutilon. Virginia marshmallow. Napaa hermaphrodita. Napaa dioica. Indian physic. Spiria trifoliata. Euphorbia Ipecacuanha. Pleurisy root. Asclepias decumbens. Virginia snake root. Aristolochia serpentaria. Black snake root. Actæ racemosa. Seneca rattle snake root. Polygala Senega. Valerian. Valeriana locusta radiata. Gentiana, Saponaria, Villosa & Centaurium. Ginseng. Panax quinquefolium. Angelica. Angelica sylvestris. 2 Tuckahoe. Lycoperdon tuber. Jerusalem artichoke. Helianthus tuberosus. Passiflora in Wild oat. Zizania acquaticia. Wild pea. Dolichos of Clayton. Wild cherry. Prunus Virginiana. Cherokec plumb. Prunus sylvestris fructu majori.Clayton. Wild plumb. Prunus sylvestris fructu minori. Clayton. Wild crab-apple., Pyrus coronaria. Red mulberry. Morus rubra. Persimmon. Diospiros Virginiana. Sugar maple. Acer saccarinum. Scaly bark hiccory. Juglans alba cortice squamoso. Clayton. Common hiccory. Juglans alba, fructu minore rancido. Clayton. Paccan, or Illinois nut. Not described by Linnæus, Millar, or Clayton. Were I to venture to describe this, speaking of the fruit from memory, and of the leaf from plants of two years growth, I should specify it as the Juglans alba, foliolis lanceolatis, acuminatis, serratis, tomentosis, fructu minore, ovato, compresso, vix insculpto, dulci, putamine tenerrimo. It grows on the Illinois, Wabash, Ohio. and Mississippi. It is spoken of by Don Ulloa, under the name of Pacanos, in his Noticias Americanas. tret. 6. Black walnut. Juglans nigra. White walnut. Juglans alba. En Chesnut. Fagus castanea. Chinquapin. Fagus pumila. Hazlenut. Corylus avellana. Grapes. Vitis. Various kinds, though only three described by Clayton. Scarlet strawberries. Fragraria Virginiana of Millar. Wild gooseberries. Ribes grossularia. Cloudberries. Rubus Chamæmorus. Black poplar. Populus nigra. Aspen. Populous tremula. Linden, or lime. Telia Americana. Red flowering maple. Acer rubrum. Umbrella. Magnolia tripetala. Swamp laurel. Magnolia glauca. Cucumber-tree. Magnolia acuminata. Portugal bay. Laurus indica. Red bay. Laurus borbonia. Dwarf-rose bay. Rhododendron maximum. Laurel of the western country. Qu. species? Wild pimento. Laurus benzoin. Sassafras. Laurus sassafras. Locust. Robinia pseudo-acacia. Fringe, or snow-drop tree. Chionanthus Virginica. |