1764.] TO JOHN BARTRAM. 263 



Johnny seems now to be our sheet anchor. I hope he will 

 inherit his father's virtues, and at leisure and suitable opportuni- 

 ties, make nature his study. 



JOHN BARTRAM TO P. COLLINSON. 



May 1st, 1764. 



Dear Peter : 



I have received my worthy friend's letter of January 1st, 1763, 

 I suppose it should be '64. * * 



The broad-leaved Carolina Commelyna, and our narrow-leaved, 

 is a late fall flower, and very different from the spring Trade- 

 scant's Spider wort. 



I had always, since ten years old, a great inclination to plants, 

 and knew all that I once observed by sight, though not their proper 

 names, having no person, nor books, to instruct me. * * 



My dear friend is much mistaken to think what we call the 

 Cuckold nut to be the common sort. With us, one may travel a 

 thousand miles and not see one of them ; whereas, formerly, in that 

 distance, we might not travel half an hour without being surrounded 

 with them. They covered the surface of most of the best ground, 

 for which reason they are already almost eradicated among the 

 inhabitants, except in fence-rows, and very rocky ground ; but the 

 others grow on the steep precipices of rocky mountains, though 

 sometimes on declining ground. I observed the Hazel plant in the 

 forks of the Schuylkill, thirty years ago ; and since, in York 

 government, and Virginia, in several places. The fire burns them 

 down to the ground every few years, and the old roots send up 

 shoots some two to four feet high, which in a year or two bear 

 nuts ; but where they grow in rich low land, they commonly grow 

 six or eight feet high, bearing nuts four or six in a bunch. I 

 thought you had this sort long ago in plenty. 



* I have not yet consulted the Doctor's letter about 



snakes. I never had an opportunity of examining the affair 

 myself, and I can't believe reports, like him. I intend to consider 

 it better. 



