1762.] TO JOHN BAR TRAM. 239 



are not so squeamish as their father.* How is my friend William 

 and Moses ? I expect some discoveries from William, who has 

 curiosity and ingenuity. I much wish he could give a sketch of 

 the Sensitive Leaf. If he is with his uncle, it may then be no 

 difficult thing to procure. I wish I could hear it was once in thy 

 own garden, and that I had good specimens. I then could form 

 some idea of this waggish plant, as waggishly described. 



Birds and insects have their certain periods. At the time thou 

 was on the Ohio, most of the first were absent, and the last in 

 their chrysalis state. It requires a year's sojournment to have a 

 tolerable knowledge of the animals of a country. 



The Basteria [Calycanthus floridus, L.] my good friend Lam- 

 boll sent me many years agone. It is a fine bush, and flowers 

 plentifully every year. Its fragrance is smelt at a great distance ; 

 is very hardy : as its wood is very aromatic, certainly has eminent 

 virtues. Is it noways applied as a medicine ? 



My great Magnolia is full of flowers this year, in which we have 

 had the least rain, and longest warm, sultry weather, I ever re- 

 member. I have had much to do, with all our watering, to keep 

 many of your plants alive. 



* * The Grassy Plant [Xerophyllum ?~] sent last, stands at a 

 stay. Send me more, and give me a hint how to manage this in- 

 tractable vegetable. * * I have two new Asters come up out 

 of the sods, the one perfoliated, which I never saw before. Sure 

 your country is inexhaustible in Asters, Virga Aureas, and Corona 

 Solis. 



I forget if I ever mentioned two monstrous teeth I had sent me 

 by the Governor of Virginia. One tooth weighs 3i pounds, 18 

 inches round. The other weighs 13 pound, 13a inches round. 

 One other has Dr. Fothergill, and T. Penx another. 



One Greexavood, well known to B. Fraxklix, an Indian 

 trader, knocked some of the teeth out of their jaws ; and George 

 Croghax has been at the licking-place, near the Ohio, where the 

 skeletons of six monstrous animals were standing, as they will in- 

 form thee. 



* This refers to John's remark on his repugnance to handling and inflicting 

 pain on insects and other animals, in his letter of May 10, where he adds "but 

 my sons, John and Benjamin, are not so squeamish. They can handle, and kill 

 them too, without any emotion." 



