162 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 



pot or greenhouse, to be able to propagate itself by layers 

 this spring. Seeds sown last autumn have as yet thriven 

 very well, and are like to hold out. The main artifice I 

 used to them, has been to keep them from the winds, 

 which seem to give a great additional force to the cold 

 to destroy the tender plants. 



I have one very perfect leaf of the Japan Camphire 

 tree, and have likewise some of the root of the Cinnamon 

 tree, with a specimen of the oil and camphire that is 

 distilled from it. One thing I would acquaint you with 

 about cinnamon is, that a gentleman of my acquaintance 

 having a great mind to have some of the true oil of 

 cinnamon, he took 12lbs. of it and distilled it in a proper 

 vessel, but had no oil at all. He from thence concluded, 

 that all the cinnamon is divested of some of its most fine 

 particles before any of it comes to us ; and, speaking to 

 Mr. Hermans on that subject, I remember he could scarce 

 deny it, although his being a servant to the Dutch East 

 India Company would hinder his telling of that secret, 

 by which they receive so much money. 



London, March 7, 168J. 



Dr. ROBINSON to Mr. RAY. 



SIR, I have inclosed some sugar of the first boiling, 

 got out of the juice of the wounded maple ; Mr. Ashton, 

 our secretary, gave it to me for you ; it was sent him from 

 Canada, where the savages prepare it out of the afore- 

 mentioned liquor, eight pints whereof affords a pound of 

 sugar. If you have any of these trees near you, or the 

 birch, or any other weeping trees, I wish you would make 

 a trial, proceeding as in the juice of the sugar-cane. The 

 Indians of Canada have practised this time out of mind ; 

 the French begin now to refine it, and to make great 

 advantages. 



London, March 10, 84. 



