1736.] TO JOHN BARTRAM. 81 



It may look grateful, every now and then, to call and inquire after 

 thy good friend Logan's welfare. He is a great man in every 

 capacity, and for whom I have the highest value. 



Dear friend, I thought when I began, to write but two or three 

 lines ; but I go on scribbling till the paper confines me. 



Thine, 



P. C. 



London, Sept. 20th, 173G. 



Friend John : 



I writ thee per Captain Pearce, and I have not much to add, 

 but to acquaint thee that I have sent a case of glass, as per bill 

 inclosed. ******* 



I have the pleasure to tell thee that the noble Marsh Martagon* 

 flowered with me, which thou sent this spring. It is a delicate 

 flower. 



I have sent in a trunk to J. Breintnall, a paper parcel for 

 thee, being Apricot, Nectarines, and some fine Peaches and Plum 

 stones, of the best sorts. These fruits, I apprehend, will succeed 

 better from seed than by grafting, unless on Peach stocks. Sow 

 them in a proper place ; if where they are always to stand, it may 

 be better. But if they are removed, I apprehend if Apricots, 

 Plums, and Nectarines were planted on the margin of a river, or on 

 the side of a feeding spring, where they may be always supplied 

 with. moisture to their fibres, they would not be so apt to shrivel 

 and drop their fruit, in the very hot weather. 



I have further to request of thee, as thee on thy own affairs art 

 obliged to traverse the woods, to take all opportunities to make 

 observations on the rattlesnake, or, indeed, any other snake. 



That birds, squirrels, &c, are found in their bellies, is notoriously 

 known, but the question is, how they came there ; whether the 

 snake, lying %)erdue, on a sudden darts on her prey and bites it, 

 and then lies on the spot expecting the effect of her poisonous bite 

 will at last bring the little animal down dead to her devouring 

 jaws. Sir Hans Sloane, and a great many others, are of this 



* This name, Martagon, it is believed, is applied to those lilies which have revolute 

 sepals, to distinguish them from those with merely campanulate flowers. The 

 " noble Marsh Martagon," here referred to, was probably the Lilium superbiim, 

 L., sometimes called Turk's cap. 



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