Extract of a Letter from the Reverend Mr. Boltzius at Ebenezer

Extract out of the Journal of Mr. Boltzius, Minister of the Gospel at Ebenezer in Georgia “ THE 10th of August, 1741. We have this Year Plenty ”of Peaches, and as this Fruit doth not keep, some of 20 “ our People try to make a certain Sort of Brandy of them, “ others give them to the Swine: This is more than any body “ could have promised to himself, or others, some Years ago. “ Even at this Time, when I am writing this, a Man brings a “ large Dish of blue Grapes to me, grown wild in the Woods; “ they are of a sweet Taste, and pretty like our European “ Grapes; that I am very apt to believe, the wild Vine-Trees, “ if properly managed, would give good Wine. Thanks be to “ our gracious God, who gives us here every good Thing for our “ Support.

“ The 9th of September, 1741. Some Time ago I wrote to “ an honored Friend in Europe, That the Land in this Country “ if well managed and labored, brings forth, by the Blessings “ of God, not only hundred Fold, but thousand Fold; and “ I this Day was confirmed therein. A Woman having two “ Years ago picked out of Indian Corn, brought at Purysburgh, “ no more than three Grains of Rye (called here German Corn),‘ and planting them here at Ebenezer, one of these Grains produced “ an hundred and seventy Stalks and Ears, and the three “ Grains yielded to her a Bag of Corn as large as a Coat-Pocket, “, the Grains whereof were good and full grown; and she “ desired me to send Part of them to a kind Benefactor in “ Europe. One of our Saltzburghers brought to me also a like “ Bag of Beans all grown out of one Bean. “ True it is, notwithstanding the Fertility of the Land, the “ first Tillagers of it must undergo and struggle with great “ Difficulties; but them that come after them will reap the Benefit “ thereof, if they go on to do their Labor in the Fear of “ God. “ The Land is able to provide every good Thing, and more “ particularly is Pasturage very plenteous.”