1760.1 T0 JOHN BART RAM. 225 



and make a pretty show in a green-house ; but contrive and make 

 a stove in it, to give heat in severe weather. 



No marvel that the Scotch have sent thee some heath, as it 

 grows at their doors ; but we must send many miles for it. 

 I am, my dear John, thy sincere friend, 



P. Collixson. 



London, October 2d, 1760. 



By Captain Boletho, I answered my dear Jonx's letter of 

 June 16. Before that, I wrote two letters, and for fear of miscar- 

 riage, inclosed it to my friend Colden, Postmaster of New York, 

 in his packet to forward to thee. And yet thou art always com- 

 plaining for want of letters, making no allowance for miscarriages. 

 Thine of March 21, I answered September 15th, and yet the good 

 man is never easy. If all my correspondents were of thy restless 

 turn of mind, I would never set pen to paper. * * 



Now I come to thank my kind friend for his letter of the 28th 

 July. I am delighted with his operations on the Larkspur. The 

 product is wonderful. If these charming flowers can be continued 

 by seed, they will be the greatest ornament to the garden in their 

 season of blowing. 



This purple-stalked Martagon is the glory of that tribe. In my 

 soil and climate, I had it grow above eight and a half feet high, 

 and had twenty-eight flowers on the spike. By all means sow the 

 seed directly, for it deserves all our care ; but it never produces 

 seed in our climate. * * The yellow-spotted Martagon, thou 

 formerly sent me. Catesby figured his from my plant. After 

 some years it went off. * * 



It has been long my sentiments, that plants and animals as they 

 advance northward, decline in their size. For instance, the croco- 

 diles of Carolina, which is the highest latitude they are found in, 

 are diminutives to those found in countries between the Tropics. 

 So this Pancratium, which I have had from my friend Lameoll, 

 as it comes farther north may grow less. Yet it is a very different 

 species from that which grows in the Bahama Islands, which I 

 have seen flower often. 



^ >fc $ ^ 



The specimens for Miller, I received safe, and thy letter by 

 thy kind neighbour the Swede ; but I happened to be out of town 



15 



