1746.]. PETER COLLINSON. 177 



How doth our friend Catesby do ? He won't speak a word to 

 me, now-a-days. He hath had several opportunities, within these 

 two years, of writing to me, and I have sent some curiosities to 

 him every year. 



The account of Reaumur, about bees and wasps, was very enter- 

 taining. I love Natural History dearly. 



J. Bartram. 



PETER COLLINSON TO JOHN BARTRAM. 



Now, friend John, I come to consider further of some of thy ob- 

 servations, by thine of the 10th of December. I am glad to find 

 that thee art so well recovered, and that all the goods are come 

 safe to hand, and please; which is more than I expected, and 

 ought not to excuse thee from being more particular and exact in 

 thy orders next time. 



Though thou canst not see, yet I have told thee what inoculating 

 on a Peach stock may do. If I am not out in my conjecture as 

 it is a free stock, and sends up its sap plentifully, it may assist the 

 Nectarine and Apricot, at a season when supplies are wanting. 

 As thou hast tried the north side of buildings, and sides of water- 

 courses, &c, to no purpose, with Plums, pray give the other fruits 

 as fair a chance. 



To prevent the depredations of the Beetle, I confess, is not so 

 easy as some other bad effects : yet, as we know the duration of 

 this insect is but short, if, while he is so noxious, some contrivance 

 could be found out, to disturb or destroy him, you then might hope 

 to taste a Nectarine, one of the most delicious fruits in the 

 universe, and much exceeds a Peach, in a rich vinous-flavoured 

 juice. And an Apricot is also one of the fine fruits. Last year, 

 our standards were overloaded, which are allowed to excel the wall 

 fruit. 



Suppose, as soon as this Beetle is discovered, if the trees were 

 to be smoked, with burning straw under them, or at some distance, 

 so as to fumigate their branches at a time the beetles are most 

 liable to attack the fruit ; or, if the trees were to be squirted on 

 by a hand engine, with water in which Tobacco leaves were soaked; 

 either of these two methods, I should think, if they did not totally 

 prevent, yet, at least, would secure so much of these fine fruits as 



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