1823, NOVEMBER. PHILADELPHIA 25 



from England on the whole this is the finest collection of exotics in 

 America. I called on Maccheus Collins, Esq., in the evening, a gentleman 

 of high standing as a mineralogist in that quarter. 



Sunday, November 2nd. To-day I went in quest of Nelumbium (or 

 Cyamus) luteum, which grows near Philadelphia, and which I saw in flower 

 when here in August. I made an exertion to procure roots, but I am very 

 sorry to say could not effect this as the roots run to an immense depth. 

 However, I am so far pleased at having ten or eleven seeds of it, which I trust 

 will grow. Mr. Bartram tried repeatedly to transplant it, without success. 

 Hamilton of Woodlands, whose domains lie on the banks of the Schuylkill, 

 some years before his death took roots from the fields south of Phila- 

 delphia, and planted them in the mud of the Schuylkill when the tide 

 ebbed and flowed they grew and flowered well ; this is the only instance 

 which has been successfully tried. Mr. Nuttall says on the Mississippi at 

 St. Louis it grows much stronger and produces knobs or tubers at the 

 root, which are greedily sought after by the natives. They are washed, 

 boiled, and then beat up with butter or grease. He also informs me that 

 when in that quarter he frequently had a dish of them and thinks them good. 

 I tried for the tubers here, but the immense depth which they run in mud 

 rendered it impossible. In the afternoon I called on Mr. Dick and from 

 his seed cabinet had a portion of everything which I conceived might be 

 useful or interesting to the Society. This gentleman would make a very 

 useful Corresponding member. He has the friendship of all American 

 travellers. Major Long has contributed to him largely in 1822 and is now 

 just returning from an interesting spot ; his expectations I hope will not be 

 disappointed. 



Philadelphia, Monday, November 3rd. In company with Mr. Nuttall 

 I set, out this morning to the residence of the late Mr. Bartram ; his niece is a 

 considerable botanist and draws well. Mr. Carr, to whom she is married, 

 has but a moderate share of knowledge ; this deficiency, however, is 

 made up by his pleasing manner. In front of the house stands a very large 

 cypress, 90 feet high and 23 round, planted by the first John Bartram ; 

 his son William (the late) held the tree while his father put the earth round ; 

 it is eighty-five years old. At the foot of this a small pond in which many 

 little and valuable treasures were ; but since the death of the worthy protector, 

 have been suffered to remain in a deplorable state. I made inquiry about 

 Quercus heterophylla, as it would be an acquisition, but found it had been cut 

 down by a servant of the person on whose estate it grew cut down by 

 mistake. Mr. Bartram was not reconciled about it so long as he lived. 

 Quercus lyrata from Georgia and Quercus macrocarpa from the Alleghany do 

 very well. I now feel happy : think some of my specimens from Canada 

 and Michigan are fine. I am sure of Q. macrocarpa. On the margin of 

 the pond Andromeda arborea, 1 fully 40 or 45 feet high, 19 inches round. 2 

 In summer it has been clothed with flowers and has now a great abundance 

 of seed : obtained a paper of seed. Soil light, and it seems to like damp, 



1 Oxydendrum arboreum, A. Gray, Syn. PI. N. Am. ii. i. p. 33. 



2 Sargent ' Silva N. Am;' v. p. 135 says : ' Occasionally 50 or 60 feet in height, 

 with a tall straight trunk 12 to 20 inches in diameter.' ED. 



