1737.] T0 JOHN BARTRAM. 103 



London, December 14, 1737. 



Dear Friend: 



I now come to take notice of thine of the 26th of April. We 

 are much obliged to thee for thy excursion to Conestogo; but it is 

 a pity thee should have double trouble; for laying of pea-straw, 

 litter, or ashes, or moss, or straw, thick about the roots of vege- 

 tables new planted, will very much secure them against the effects 

 of the frosts. 



The Gooseberry thou mentions, must be a curiosity. 



Thy observations on the Locust are curious, (but the sticks are 

 much more so.) It shows how indefatigable thee art after truth, 

 and the processes of nature. It may be very providential, that 

 they spread not over the country everywhere. This is undoubt- 

 edly to preserve the balance, that more is not produced than is 

 necessary for food, and to propagate the species. 



The book mentioned by Switzers, I have sent thee, which I 

 hope is come to hand. 



I have heard of thy house, and thy great art and industry in 

 building it. It makes me long to see it, and the builder. 



I believe I gave thee a hint that the Bays and the Cypress must 

 be protected. But I will send more seed; and, if I can, a Cedar 

 of Lebanon cone, which is very hardy, and grows in the midst of 

 snow, so will endure your climate; but the cones are rare to get. 



I commend thy caution, not to leave thy home but on the most 

 necessary occasions, though it was a tempting expedition to go with 

 Friend Wolley. 



Thy caution, relating to the Doctor, is very good. As to what 

 he may say of me, I mind it not. I can readily overlook his weak- 

 nesses, imputing them more to his natural disposition, which I 

 take to be peevish and froward, than to his mind ; for he has many 

 good qualities. 



I despair doing anything from the seed of the Laurel and Shrub 

 Honeysuckles, the seed is so small and chaffy. If there is any 

 likelihood of success, it must be from their being immediately, when 

 ripe, sown in a box of mould, and so sent nailed up, only leaving 

 some holes for circulation of air. 



Thy thought of collecting the bulbous roots, was exceeding kind. 

 They came in perfect order ; so hope to see their appearance in the 

 spring. There is one flower amongst the specimens, which is a 



