68 The Scottish Naturalist. , 



an herbalist, and occasionally prepared decoctions and pre- 

 scribed ; and this the mention of the " powder for scrofula with 

 directions " would seem to confirm. 



George Don to David Booth. 



"Botanic Garden, Forfar, 

 Nov. 19, 1812. 



" Dear Sir, — I have procured two volumes of Botanical plates 

 with some difficulty. I have given my line to David Mudie, and 

 Mr Roberts has become Bound for me that they shall be returned 

 at the end of two months, and then I shall endeavour to procure 

 the other when you return the two just now sent. I have sent 

 the powder for scrofula with directions. 



"I will thank you to send the Jasmine fruticans and Serapis 

 latifolia, and seed of Reseda lutea,* when the frost goes off. — 

 With best wishes for the wellfare of Mrs Booth and family, I 

 remain, dear sir, yours truly, G. Don. 



"Mr David Booth. 



(* And a plant of the Scirpus or Bull Rush that grows by the 

 side of the river at Newburgh.) 



" N.B. — I have had a long Botanical Excurtion since I was in 

 Newburgh, and have been successful, having discovered the fol- 

 lowing new plants to Britain — viz., Salix lanata of Linn., and 

 a nondescript species, Ranunculus rivalis of Linn., Astragalus 

 campestris of Linn., Carex rariflora of Whalenberg, and also 

 Carex salina of Swortz, and a nondescript species of Juncus, 

 with many other rare plants, and some new and rare crypto- 

 gameous plants. — Yours as above, G. D. 



" P.S. — The parcel is sent agreeable to your directions." 



The first time Don appeared formally as an author was, so far 

 as I am aware, in the year before he wrote the above letter. He 

 contributed a paper to the discussion of a question which was, 

 at the time, engaging the attention of naturalists — the decay of 

 the Scots fir. It is in the shape of a letter addressed to his 

 friend Dr Patrick Neill, and was afterwards published in the 

 Memoirs of the Caledonian Horticultural Society. It affords 

 unmistakable evidence both of Don's remarkably keen powers 

 of observation and of his common-sense ; and as it may not, 

 even yet, have lost its interest, I shall quote the principal por- 

 tions of it. The letter is dated " Forfar Gardens, 10th February 

 1811 : — 



