504 DOCTOR FOT HE RG ILL [1?T1. 



The box with Insects, by Captain Sparks, came very safe, and 

 the insects in tolerable condition, for the most part. Some of 

 them had suffered, by being put up in the box before they were 

 quite dry, and from insects that had got amongst them. I have 

 returned the box for another cargo, if any variety occur ; and like- 

 wise for duplicates of as many of those that were first sent to me, 

 as may be easily procured, for most of them were damaged. Your 

 Cedar is too hard and gummy. It exudes a kind of liquor that 

 spoils insects. Your softest Fir would do much better. But my 

 box is preferable to anything. Let the boxes be taken out and 

 well dried, before any insects are put in. Let the insects likewise 

 be well dried, and a bit of camphire and powdered pepper be tied 

 in a rag, and fixed in each partition. 



As I have now got most of the common American plants in 

 plenty, I would not give thee the trouble of sending more seeds 

 or plants, of the kinds I have received from thee, except such as I 

 may hereafter desire to make up for my defects. Any new kinds, 

 either plants or seeds, will be very acceptable. 



William Young sends his plants over very safely, by wrapping 

 them up in moss, and packing them pretty close in a box. They 

 come thus very safe, and we lose very few of them. He ties the 

 moss in a ball about the roots, with a piece of packthread or mat- 

 ting, or hemp strings, and puts them so close as to prevent them 

 from shaking about in the box. It is surprising how well they 

 keep in this manner. I have recommended the following method 

 to my friends, likewise, of sending over seeds in a vegetating con- 

 dition : Make a box of any width and length, but not very deep ; 

 six or seven inches may be sufficient. Cover the bottom with moss 

 {Sphagnum), not quite dry. On this lay acorns, or any large 

 kinds of seeds. Cover these with moss, and upon that another 

 layer of large seeds, in patches ; that is, half a dozen, or half a 

 score together, according to their plenty. Cover these with moss, 

 and strew on the top, in patches likewise, any small scarce seeds. 

 These, sent off in autumn, will be committed to proper earth early 

 in the spring, here, and will probably supply us with many plants 

 that we should otherwise procure with difficulty. 



I wish we may be successful with the Qolocasia. We will do all 

 we can, and I shall acquaint thee with the success. 



The Alder is a fine one ; the seeds are taken care of, but try to 



