" Pray, look out sharp next year, and be beforehand with that saucy raccoon, that 

 I may see that pretty nest built in the bush ; and send the wasp, and a better 

 specimen of the clay-wasp; for the last wanted its head." 



John to Peter sayeth : " I take thy advice about books very kindly, although 

 I love reading such dearly ; and I believe, if Solomon had loved women less, and 

 books more, he would have been a wiser and happier man than he was." * * * 

 "I sent Gordon a fine parcel of hollyberries, the getting of which had like to 

 have broke my bones. I was on the top of the tree, when the top that I had 

 hold of, and the branch I stood on, broke, and I fell to the ground. My little 

 son was not able to help me up; my pain was grievous; afterwards very sick ; 

 then in a wet sweat, in a dark thicket, no house near, and a very cold, sharp wind, 

 and above twenty miles to ride home." 



A sensitive plant sent Collinson amuses all who saw it; he says: "Whilst the 

 Frenchman was ready to burst with laughing, I am ready to burst with desire for 

 root, seed, or specimen of the waggish Tipitvwitchet sensitive. If I have not a 

 specimen in thy next letter, never write me more. I wish it was in my power to 

 mortify thee as much. Pray look where grows nearest, some Azaleas, Kalmias, 

 and Rhododendrons." * * * Again: "0, Botany! delightfulest of all sci- 

 ences. There is no end to thy gratifications. I have sent Linmeus a specimen of 

 Tipitiivitchet sensitive; only to him would I spare such a jewel; he will be in 

 raptures." * * * LadyPetre sent over to Bartram the seed of a pear, which 

 was planted, and in 1163 it produced fine fruit; Bartram says: "I think abetter 

 is not in the world." The tree still exists near the old house, and annually its fruit 

 is one of the pleasant things to call up old reminiscences at our Horticultural 

 exhibitions. The same year he says to Collinson : "The variety of plants and 

 flowers in our southwestern continent, is beyond expression. Is it not, dear 

 Peter, the very palace garden of old Madam Flora? Oh! if I could but spend 

 six months on the Ohio, Mississippi, and Florida in health, I believe I could find 

 more curiosities than the English, French, and Spaniards have done in six score 

 years. But the Indians, instigated by the French, will not let us look at so much 

 as a plant or tree in this great British empire." The grafting of the pear on the 

 quince had already attracted the attention of the knowing ones. In 1763, Peter 

 writes : " What I am persuaded will prevent its dropping its fruit, if some quinces 

 were planted in the lower part of thy garden, near the spring, and graft them 

 with the pear — it meliorates the fruit. By long experience, all our pears are 

 grafted on quince stocks, and succeed better than on pear stocks with lis." =•= * * 

 " I am no stranger to the native bread of Carolina and Virginia. It is a Tuher 

 TerrcB, or earth fungus. I have it sent me, near as big as my head. In time of 

 want it is of great importance to the Indians. They call it 7'//f/i.yfZ!oe." * * * 

 " Tlie Stiiartia flowered for the first time at Kew, which is the paradise of our 

 world, where all plants are found, that money or interest can procure. When I 

 am tliere, I am transported with the novelty and variety, and don't know which 

 mire first or most." 



