(32 PETER COLLINSON [1734-5. 



I only barely mention these plants ; not that I expect thee to 

 send them. I don't expect or desire them, but as they happen to 

 be found accidentally : and what is not to be met with one year, 

 may be another. 



It happens that your late ships, in the autumn, come away 

 before a great many of our seeds are ripe, and the spring I don't 

 approve as the best season to send them ; but as it rarely happens 

 otherwise, I have taken a method to send some in paper, and some 

 in sand. After thee has picked out the largest, which must be 

 instantly set, for very probably they were chilled coming over. 

 When it is my case, as it often happens, taking the following 

 method, I have raised a great many pretty plants out of your 

 earth. I lay out a bed 5 or 6 feet long by 3 feet wide ; then I 

 pare oif the earth an inch or two deep, then I loosen the bottom, 

 and lay it very smooth again, and thereon, (if I may use the term,) 

 I sow the sand and seed together as thin as I can, then I sift some 

 good earth over it about half an inch thick. This bed ought to be 

 in some place that it may not be disturbed, and kept very clear 

 from weeds ; for several seeds come not up till the second year. I 

 have put some hard-shelled Almonds of my own growth, and some 

 soft-shelled from Portugal : they are easily distinguished. 



The almond makes a fine pie, taken whilst a pin can be run 

 through them ; for you eat husk, shell, and kernel, altogether. 

 They must be first coddled over a gentle fire, and then put in crust. 

 I query whether young peaches would be as good, before the shell 

 is hard. 



I have put in the sand some vine cuttings, and some of the great 

 Neapolitan Medlar, which we always graft on white thorns, and so 

 must you. As soon as these cuttings come to hand, soak them all 

 over in water for twenty-four hours, and then plant the vines (the 

 earth being well loosened) as deep as only the uppermost bud of 

 the cutting may be level with the earth. Water them in dry 

 weather. These seldom fail growing. The grafts, after soaking, 

 may be laid in the earth, or in a moist place, till grafted, which 

 should be soon. 



I hope thee will take these two long rambling epistles in good 

 part. They are writ, a bit now and then, as business will permit. 

 Let me hear from thee at thy leisure, which will much oblige thy 

 real friend, 



P. Collinson. 



