1742.] TO JOHN BARTRAM. 155 



tinguished by its name. Thou may also send two specimens of the 

 long-coned or five-leafed Pine, with the cones hanging on. 



It is now a rainy day ; and, being at Peckham, I and my wife 

 were agreeably entertained by reviewing thy journey, and thy map 

 to Minnesink. 



Pray, how far from the sea is that mountain where thou found 

 the figured stones '' 



When the Larix was discovered, were there no old trees that 

 yielded turpentine ? For the finest and best sort is made by the 

 Venetians from this tree ; whence it has the name of Venice Tur- 

 pentine. 



Pray, have we had that new Maple with red stalks, and leaves 

 rough ? The large red-flowering Raspberry thou found, is a fine 

 showy plant has been long in our gardens ; but I never saw it 

 bear any fruit, with us.* The Conestogo Gooseberry, also, annu- 

 ally flowers, but the fruit does not set. 



I am much pleased with thy account of Doctor Witt. It is 

 confirmed to me, in many instances, in his letters. I believe he is 

 very credulous, and deals much in the marvellous. It's plain he 

 was mistaken in the Golden Rod ; for no doubt, the pod he men- 

 tions that plant bore as thou well observes was but an excres- 

 cence. The like I have often observed here, in several plants. 

 His Daisy, or double mountain Ranunculus [Anemone tlialic- 

 troides, L.], is a pretty thing. * * * * I received the speci- 

 mens of Sweet and Sour Gum. They are plants peculiar to them- 

 selves, and each a distinct genus. Consult the Flora Virginica. 



Canst thee assign any reasonable conjecture why your House 

 Wasps don't sting, in October ? 



Your Greek Valerian thrives well with me. I like it, because 

 it comes before ours, and grows lower. 



Thy account of the Muskrat is very just and natural. Few can 

 give any reasonable account for antipathies. Some, we suck in 

 with our nurse's milk. They often instil into our minds dislikes 

 for things they dislike ; and this we rarely get over, but retain as 

 long as we live. What parents are frightened at, by their example 

 children conceive the same. Perhaps this may be thy case, in re- 

 lation to the OjJossum a prejudice arising from some of these 

 causes ; or else, really, I can see no reason for it ; for I have had 



* Rubus odoratus, L. It rarely, if ever, perfects its fruit in the gardens here ; 

 and is often abortive in its native localities. 



