90 PETER COLLINSON [1736-7. 



date them to thy pocket. Pray take one or two, with the fly-nets, 

 in a bag by thy side, and some pins. Perhaps thee may meet 

 with something curious, and may want conveniency to catch and 

 carry it. If the nets are torn, or worn out, send them back to be 

 repaired. 



My wishes are for thy health and safety. 



I am truly thine, 



P. Collinson. 



The wasps, and nests, are all very curious and acceptable. 



London, February 26th, 1736-7. 



Dear Friend John : 



Thou omitted to tell us how many miles thou travelled from 

 home. Pray, by the first ship, let me know to what part of the 

 country thy inclination leads thee, next fall. 



I believe it will be acceptable to all thy friends, to make a 

 general collection of all the Pines, and Firs, your part affords. I 

 am apt to think the Jerseys may afford all the Pines and Firs 

 mentioned by Dudley, and save a further journey. We are very 

 poorly furnished with this tribe. The few seeds, and specimen No. 

 113 of the White Pine, is a sort we very much want. The dif- 

 ference between Pines and Firs is, that all Pines have their leaves 

 set by pairs [or fascicles] ; and in all Firs, the leaves are set 

 singly on the branches. 



It is a noble collection of Spruce cones that thee has sent ; but 

 we are at a loss to know the plant it belongs to, for want of speci- 

 mens. Pray send some by the first opportunity ; for there are 

 several sorts of Firs that bear small cones. 



It is a fine parcel of White Cedar, that thee has sent. I wish 

 we may be so fortunate to raise some. It is a plant that we 

 have not in England. I wish thee would collect a few young seed- 

 lings, a foot or two high, and plant in thy garden till they have 

 stood a year and taken root, and then send them ; or what would 

 be better is, to plant six or eight in a box, about two feet scpiare, 

 and if they grow, they may be sent without danger of removing : 

 and pray send more seed next year. 



What does thee make of those substances with the sprigs growing 

 through them ? I take them to be excrescences, though they have 

 some small resemblance of the Cypress cone. 



