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Travels in Some Parts of North America, in the Years 1804, 1805, & 1806, by Robert Sutcliff

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supped and spent the evening at his house on the banks of the Schuylkil; where he has a productive farm, which appears to be well managed. The road up to the house was planted on each side with English quicksets, which appeared to thrive better than any I had seen in this country, I un-derstand that the winters here are generally too sharp for thorn, so that they rarely answer as a fence. However the native American thorn makes a good hedge; and, in some parts of the Delaware State, I have seen it used to considerable advantage. It is a much greater ornament to a plantation, than either the common worm fence, or that of the posts and rails which generally prevails throughout the United States. The farmers object to hedges in general, alleging that they harbour birds and ver- min of different kinds, which injure the crops. 4th Month 15th, 16th, and 17th, were spent at Merion and in its neighbourhood. In the economy of a family in this country, I frequently observed a practice well worthy of imitation, where soap is an expensive article. In many families it is the custom to preserve the bones that are collected in the kitchen after a meal. When a sufficient quan- tity is obtained, they are put into a pan provided for the purpose, and some lie, made from wood ashes, is poured upon them. The pan being placed near the fire, if the lie is of sufficient strength to