90 BRITISH AMERICA.

The vine, generally called in America maiden hair, (adianthum capillus veneris: Linn.) is abundant, growing usually along the sides of dry hollows, or among old fallen trees, but always in the shade. The leaves of it are infused as tea ; its berry affords a delicious jelly, from which the once celebrated “ sirop de capillaire” took its name.

A root, called, from its colour, blood-root, and from its taste, chocolate root, is boiled in water, and the decoction used by the Indians as a certain 1en1edy fo1 the most violent attack of cholic. It IS also taken by them to remove dysentel y, &c. , and it alleviates acute pain as readily as opium, without possessing the pernicious qualities of that drug.

A variety of herbs and roots are used by the inha- bitants instead of tea, and many of them are grateful to the taste, and probably as conducive to health as the Oriental shrub.

Many varieties of wild fruits abound in North America. Vines are discovered growing indigenous in Canada and Nova Scotia. Cranberries are plen- tiful, uncommonly fine, and as large as cherries in England. Raspberries and strawberries grow natu- rally in astonishing abundance ; also, whortleberries and blueberries. Black and red currants, goose- berries, and two or three descriptions of cherries, grow wild. The fruit called Indian pear, is of the most delicious flavour. Juniper-berries, in many places, me very abundant Hazel-nuts grow wild There are many kinds of glasses indigenous to the