1759.] T0 JOHN BAR TRAM. 221 



I hope the boxes of seeds will come in time. If this is not too 

 late, I can dispose of two or three more. People come at all sea- 

 sons " Pray, sir, let me have a box or two of seeds ;" just as if I 

 could write into the country for them ; never thinking, they must 

 come near four thousand miles. So very thoughtless are the 

 generality of mankind. * * * Now, my dear John, farewell. 



In haste 



P. Collinson. 



London, November 8, 1759. 



* * * I am pleased to find thee in such high spirits. Now 

 I am convinced more than ever that thou art a deep-rooted bota- 

 nist ; for a little enthusiastic turn, probably the effect of your hot 

 weather, has set thy ideas a rambling in the wide fields of nature. 

 She is not so docile as thou imagines, and will be put very little 

 out of her course by all thy inventions. However, by the trials 

 thou proposes to make, thou will be convinced of the weakness of 

 thy efforts, to produce any settled or remarkable change in her 

 laws. Pray, let me know the success of thy experiments. 



It is frequent with, us, after long summer droughts, rains the 

 beginning of August, and warm, dry weather ensuing, many trees 

 will blossom, too many to enumerate. But then, this is the effect 

 of a particular season, and does not happen every year. This 

 year, I saw a cherry tree in blossom in August ; but that tree 

 may never do so again. It is accidental, and not to be brought 

 into practice by art, in the common course of nature. 



It is frequent in curious gardens, whose owners are men of for- 

 tune, to plant fruit trees and vines in warm stoves, to bring them 

 very early into blossom, to have early fruit. But this so exhausts 

 the trees, that new trees must be planted every year. 



* * Thou frequently talks of having sent specimens to me 

 and Lord Petre, of this, that, and the other species, as if it was 

 but a year or two agone ; when, alas ! he has been dead fourteen 

 or fifteen years. All such items are but wasting paper and ink. 



=K * * * 



It must be a surprising fine sight to see the White Calceolus 

 \Qypripedium spectabile, Sw. ?] near three feet high ; but your 

 warmth and soil greatly promote vegetation. My plant flattered 



