1762.] PETER COLLINSOX. 033 



P. COLLINSOX TO JOHN BARTRAM. 



Loudon, April 1, 1762. 



I had my dear John's letter of December 12th, which is 

 always acceptable. But what have I to do with Poxthieu, that I 

 must be charged double postage ; 20s. for his bill of loading ? 

 Why had I the trouble of it ? And then, what is very singular, 

 thou mentions no price for either his box of plants, or for that to 

 Powel and Eddy. But if thou art so generous to give both, all 

 that is at once settled. 



I really believe my honest John is a great wag, and has sent 

 seven hard, stony seeds, something shaped like an acorn, to puzzle 

 us ; for there is no name to them. I iiave a vast collection of 

 seeds, but none like them. I do laugh at Goedon, for he guesses 

 them to be a species of Hickory.* Perhaps I may be laughed at 

 in turn, for I think they may be, what I wish, seeds of the Bon- 

 duc Tree \_Gymnocladiis Canadensis, Lam.], which thou picked up 

 in thy rambles on the Ohio. For thou must know there are trees 

 of this rare species that grow in the Trench settlements in Canada; 

 but whether it grows near Quebec, Montreal, or near the lakes, I 

 cannot learn. We have three in our English gardens, that thrive 

 finely, and if the war had not broke out, mine would have been the 

 fourth. A few days agone, I had a letter from Paris, informing 

 me they keep two trees for me, when it shall please God to send a 

 peace. This elegant tree has large leaves, divided into many por- 

 tions, very much resembling the Angelica Tree. It bears its fruit 

 in pods, like the West India Bonduc, or Nickar Tree ; but what 

 blossom, I could never learn. This is the only fine tree in which 

 the French rival us. But now we have got possession, we shall 

 rival them. * * I am always careful of your earth ; for I have 

 raised many odd plants out of it, that thou never would think to 

 send seeds of. * * * 



* Gordon made decidedly the best guess, for those " stony seeds" were no 

 doubt the nuts of the Pecan or Illinois Hickory \Carya olivceformis, Xutt.]. In 

 reply to Peter's remarks, John Bartram says, " The hard nuts I sent were 

 given me at Pittsburg by Col. BororET. He called them Hickory nuts. He had 

 them from the country of the Illinois. Their kernel was very sweet. I am afraid 

 they won't sprout, as being a year old." 



