1792.] TO WILLIAM BARTRAM. ); : ; 



it, for a short time ? You, my dear sir, should be a friend of this 

 class, in particular ; because your namesake, Bartramia, now lives 

 amongst them. I love the little plant, now, twice as well, because 

 it remembers me of such worthy friends. Before, it was Bryum 

 pomiforme. How would you like it, if I would once send a party 

 of these plants, with their proper names ? Or, which would be 

 better, will you clap every one of such you find in your neighbour- 

 hood in a little paper, and send them to me, after having them 

 numbered ? I will then faithfully tell all their names, as far as I 

 know them. The hills and banks of your mild Schuylkill are full 

 of them. Any time, from now till April, will give you a rich 

 harvest. 



The same proposal I make, in respect to Grasses. These arc 

 my particular favourites ; and I have gathered from every quarter, 

 and have a good collection of well-defined Grasses to compare them 

 with. You would oblige me exceedingly, by gathering every species 

 of them, for me. 



In respect to trees, I am rather behindhand, for want of good 

 eyes; and I confess, here, I have many Adversaria?. Marshall 

 has given me some satisfaction; but his Arbustum wants some 

 emendations. Any observation that way, where you think he is 

 wrong, or where another name might have been given, would be 

 pleasing to me. Both Marshalls, I am happy to say, are my 

 friends. They have done away some of my doubts, but not all ; 

 ex. gr. What is Andromeda plumata ? Does his description of 

 the Betulce, and the application of the Linnrean names, nigra et 

 lenta, agree with your observations? How do his Euonijmi differ? 

 No. 2 or 1, is atropurpureus. Is sempervirens, Americanus, L. ? 

 Fraxinus nigra seems to me excelsior, L. however, a bad name for 

 our species ; alba, Marsh. Americana, L. Laurus Benzoin, Marsh. 

 aestivalis, L. ; but which is geniculata ? Lonicera Marilandica is 

 this LixnvEI Spigelia? Mespilus, Populus, Quercus, Juglans, 

 would allow many questions. Bubus hisj?idusis it our Dewberry ? 

 Salix, Viburnum, Vitis, how many species? I propose to send 

 you a number of observations I made on these heads, for your cri- 

 ticism ; and anticipate the pleasure I shall have, when I, please 

 God, can see you, next spring. 



In respect to the Begnum animale, I have done but little, being 

 closed up in a well-settled part of the country, where few animals, 

 except the insects, can live. Besides, it seems much against my 



