!38 PETER COLLINSON [1740. 



and is very near akin to it. Lord Petre has had the greatest 

 luck, having the largest quantity of seed. He has two or three 

 sorts of fine Chrysanthemums, or Sun-fiWers : Asters, I have a 

 fine new sort. Your thickets must make a beautiful show in the 

 autumn, with these plants ; for I see they must be in great plenty,^ 

 for almost every sod has an Aster growing with the curious 

 plant that thee sent. * * 



I hope I shall now see Josselyn's Daffodil, or your Dens Canis, 

 with a yellow flower, in perfection. 



I am much obliged to thee for the account of Dr. "Witt's rari- 

 ties. Thee has unravelled the whole mystery. 



Pray tell me, is the plant thee calls a Valerian, with blue 

 flowers, which came in the last cargo, a native of your country ? 

 for it has been long in our gardens. "We call it Greek Valerian 

 \_Polemonium.~\. 



Every day I expect thy last specimens from Holland. They 

 have been long delayed by many accidents, but I can't help my- 

 self; for Doctor Gronovius is so kind to fix them neatly on fine 

 white paper, that they look as beautiful as so many pictures, and 

 names them into the bargain. Neither my skill nor time would 

 permit me to do this ; so I am glad to comply with his own time : 

 but this will prevent me giving names to the last two quires, till 

 next year. I can tell thee in the next edition of Virginia plants, 

 thee will see Bartramia. * * 



I am thy true and sincere friend, 



P. COLLINSON. 



London, December 20, 1740. 



Friend John : 



It is to be hoped that thy patience will be rewarded with some 

 knowledge, as the other part of the sheet will inform thee.* 



There are many names not to be met with in old botanists. 

 The discoveries of such numbers of plants in your world, has obliged 

 our moderns, being new genuses to give them new names. 



* "The other part of the sheet" contains a numbered list, as named by Gro- 

 novius of the specimens -which had been sent by John Bartram to P. Collin- 

 son. In that list, one of the specimens is thus noticed : 



"Cortus^; sive Verbasci. Fl. Virg. pp. 74, 75. This, being a new genus, may 

 be called Bartramia." 



