SW_Sutcliff_Page_254

get in their harvest with little difficulty, in conse- quence of the clear settled weather which generally prevails during their long summers. Unsound grain is a thing scarcely ever heard of. 7th Month, 2d. I spent the afternoon and drank tea at H. B's. His bee-hives having been considerably annoyed by bird, called the Bee- eater, he took out his fowling-piece, and shot one of them; and on opening the craw, we found many bees which it had devoured. So destructive are these birds, that a nest of them would destroy several hives in the course of a summer, if left undisturbed. 7th, Month, 3d. I attended the Preparative Meeting at Merion, and in the evening had a pleasant walk to Dr. H's. A considerable part of the road leading to his house, is lined with cedar, sassafras, shumack, sweet chesnut, &;c. &;c. but what has a most singular and pleasing effect is, that most of the higher trees are entirely over- grown with vines, which spread over them with great luxuriance; and, when the grapes are ripe, present a very inviting appearance. They are of a small black kind, and very pleasant to the palate, particularly in pies and tarts; in which, according to the taste, they exceed almost every other kind of fruit. They are often preserved in jars, for this purpose to be used in winter. Some of the