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ery close to each other。 These are connected by vines； and the interstices； between the rows； are filled with corn。 The gardens that supply the town with sallad and pot…herbs； lye all on the side of Provence； by the highway。 They are surrounded with high stone…walls； or ditches； planted with a kind of cane or large reed； which answers many purposes in this country。 The leaves of it afford sustenance to the asses； and the canes not only serve as fences to the inclosures； but are used to prop the vines and pease； and to build habitations for the silkworms： they are formed into arbours； and wore as walking…staves。 All these gardens are watered by little rills that come from the mountains； particularly； by the small branches of the two sources which I have described in a former letter； as issuing from the two sides of a mountain； under the names of Fontaine de Muraille； and Fontaine du Temple。
In the neighbourhood of Nice； they raise a considerable quantity of hemp； the largest and strongest I ever saw。 Part of this； when dressed； is exported to other countries； and part is manufactured into cordage。 However profitable it may be to the grower； it is certainly a great nuisance in the summer。 When taken out of the pits； where it has been put to rot； the stench it raises is quite insupportable； and must undoubtedly be unwholesome。
There is such a want of land in this neighbourhood； that terraces are built over one another with loose stones； on the faces of bare rocks； and these being covered with earth and manured； are planted with olives； vines； and corn。 The same shift was practised all over Palestine； which was rocky and barren； and much more populous than the county of Nice。
Notwithstanding the small extent of this territory； there are some pleasant meadows in the skirts of Nice； that produce excellent clover； and the corn which is sown in open fields； where it has the full benefit of the soil； sun； and air； grows to a surprizing height。 I have seen rye seven or eight feet high。 All vegetables have a wonderful growth in this climate。 Besides wheat； rye； barley； and oats； this country produces a good deal of Meliga； or Turkish wheat； which is what we call Indian corn。 I have； in a former letter； observed that the meal of this grain goes by the name polenta； and makes excellent hasty…pudding； being very nourishing； and counted an admirable pectoral。 The pods and stalks are used for fuel： and the leaves are much preferable to common straw； for making paillasses。
The pease and beans in the garden appear in the winter like beautiful plantations of young trees in blossom； and perfume the air。 Myrtle； sweet…briar； sweet…marjoram； sage； thyme； lavender； rosemary； with many other aromatic herbs and flowers； which with us require the most careful cultivation； are here found wild in the mountains。
It is not many years since the Nissards learned the culture of silk…worms； of their neighbours the Piedmontese； and hitherto the progress they have made is not very considerable： the whole county of Nice produces about one hundred and thirty…three bales of three hundred pounds each； amounting in value to four hundred thousand livres。
In the beginning of April； when the mulberry…leaves； begin to put forth； the eggs or grains that produce the silk…worm； are hatched。 The grains are washed in wine； and those that swim on the top； are thrown away as good for nothing。 The rest being deposited in small bags of linen； are worn by women in their bosoms； until the worms begin to appear： then they are placed in shallow wooden boxes； covered with a piece of white paper； cut into little holes； through which the worms ascend as they are hatched； to feed on the young mulberry…leaves； of which there is a layer above the paper。 These boxes are kept for warmth between two mattrasses； and visited every day。 Fresh leaves are laid in； and the worms that feed are removed successively to the other place prepared for their reception。 This is an habitation； consisting of two or three stories； about twenty inches from each other； raised upon four wooden posts。 The floors are made of canes； and strewed with fresh mulberry…leaves： the corner posts； and other occasional props； for sustaining the different floors； are covered with a coat of loose heath； which is twisted round the wood。 The worms when hatched are laid upon the floors； and here you may see them in all the different stages （if moulting or casting the slough； a change which they undergo three times successively before they begin to work。 The silk…worm is an animal of such acute and delicate sensations； that too much care cannot be taken to keep its habitation clean； and to refresh it from time to time with pure air。 I have seen them languish and die in scores； in consequence of an accidental bad smell。 The soiled leaves； and the filth which they necessarily produce； should be carefully shifted every day； and it would not be amiss to purify the air sometimes with fumes of vinegar； rose； or orange…flower water。 These niceties； however； are but little observed。 They commonly lie in heaps as thick as shrimps in a plate； some feeding on the leaves； some new hatched； some intranced in the agonies of casting their skin； sonic languishing； and some actually dead； with a litter of half…eaten faded leaves about them； in a close room； crouded with women and children； not at all remarkable for their cleanliness。 I am assured by some persons of credit； that if they are touched； or even approached； by a woman in her catamenia； they infallibly expire。 This； however； must be understood of those females whose skins have naturally a very rank flavour； which is generally heightened at such periods。 The mulberry…leaves used in this country are of the tree which bears a small white fruit not larger than a damascene。 They are planted on purpose； and the leaves are sold at so much a pound。 By the middle of June all the mulberry…trees are stripped； but new leaves succeed； and in a few weeks； they are cloathed again with fresh verdure。 In about ten days after the last moulting； the silk…worm climbs upon the props of his house； and choosing a situation among the heath； begins to spin in a most curious manner； until he is quite inclosed； and the cocon or pod of silk； about the size of a pigeon's egg； which he has produced remains suspended by several filaments。 It is no unusual to see double cocons； spun by two worms included under a common cover。 There must be an infinite number of worms to yield any considerable quantity of silk。 One ounce of eggs or grains produces； four rup； or one hundred Nice pounds of cocons； and one rup； or twenty…five pounds of cocons； if they are rich； gives three pounds of raw silk； that is； twelve pounds of silk are got from one ounce of grains； which ounce of grains its produced by as many worms as are inclosed in one pound； or twelve ounces of cocons。 In preserving the cocons for breed； you must choose an equal number of males and females； and these are very easily distinguished by the shape of the cocons； that which contains the male is sharp； and the other obtuse； at the two ends。 In