1734-5.] TO JOHN BARTRAM. 63 



Send a quantity of seed of the Birch or Black Beech ; it seems 

 to be new. Send me a good root of the Swallow-wort, or 

 Apocinon, with narrow leaves and orange-coloured flowers ; and 

 of the pretty shrub called Red Root, and of the Cotton-weed or 

 Life-everlasting, and some more seed of the perannual Pea, that 

 grows by rivers ; this year, or next, or next after, as it happens. 

 Pray send me a walking-cane, of the Cane-wood. 



London, January 24th, 1735. 



My good friend, John Bartram : 



I am very much obliged to thee for thy two choice cargoes of 

 plants, which came very safe and in good condition, and are very 

 curious and rare, and well worth my acceptance. I am very sen- 

 sible of the great pains, and many tiresome steps, to collect so 

 many rare plants scattered at a distance. I shall not forget it ; 

 but in some measure to show my gratitude, though not in propor- 

 tion to thy trouble, I have sent thee a small token : a calico gown 

 for thy wife, and some odd little things that may be of use amongst 

 the children and family. They come in a box of books to my 

 worthy friend, Joseph Breintnall, with another parcel of waste 

 paper, which will serve to wrap up seeds, &c. But there is two 

 quires of brown, and one of whited-brown paper, which I propose 

 for this use and purpose, and will save thee a great deal of trouble 

 in writing : that is, when thee observes a curious plant in flower, or 

 when thee gathers seed of a plant thee has an intention to convey 

 me a description of, on both these occasions, thee has nothing more 

 to do than to gather branches or sprigs of the plants, then in 

 flower, with their flowers on, and with their seed-vessels fully 

 formed ; for by these two characteristics, the genus is known that 

 they belong to. Then take these, and spread them between the 

 sheets of brown paper, laying the stems straight and leaves smooth 

 and regular ; and when this is done, put a moderate weight on a 

 board the size of the paper. In two days remove the specimens 

 into the other quire of brown paper, keeping the weight on ; and 

 then in a week or two, being pretty well dried, convey them 

 thence into the quire of whited-brown paper. Thus, when now and 

 then thee observes a curious plant, thee may treat it in this manner, 

 by which thee will convey a more lively idea than the best descrip- 

 tion ; and when thee gathers seeds, mark the same number on the 



