1 58 Original Letters of Dr. Franklin. 



I thank you for the merino wool ; 'tis a curiosity. Mr, 

 Roberts promises me some observations in husbandry for 

 you. It is one Mr. Martin that makes dung of leaves, and 

 not Mr. Roberts : I hope to get the particulars from him 

 soon. 



I have a letter from Mr. Collinson of July 19, in which 

 he writes, " Pray has Mr. Elliot published any addition to 

 his work ; I have No. 1 and 2. If I can get ready, I will 

 send some improvements made in the sandy parts of the 

 County of Norfolk ; by the way it is a great secret, but it is 

 Mr. Jackson's own drawing up, being experiments made on 

 some of his father's estates in that County : but his name 

 must not be mentioned. I thank you for the fowl meadow 

 grass. I sowed it June 7, as soon as I received it, but none 

 is yet come up. I dont know how it is, but I never could 

 raise any of your native grasses; and I have had variety of 

 J. Bartram of curious species." 



In another of Sept. 26, he says, " I am much obliged to 

 thee for Mr. Elliot's third essay. I have sent Maxwell's 

 select transactions in husbandry : if Mr. Elliot has not seen 

 them, they may be very useful to him. I have prevailed 

 on our worthy, learned, and ingenious friend, Mr. Jackson, 

 to give some dissertations on the husbandry of Norfolk, be- 

 lieving it may be very serviceable to the Colonies. He 

 has great opportunities of doing this, being a gentleman of 

 leisure and fortune, being the only son whose father has 

 great riches and possessions, and resides every year all the 

 long vacation at his father's seat in Norfolk. After J. Bar- 

 tram has perused it, I shall submit how it may be further 

 disposed of, only our friend Elliot should see it soon ; for 

 Mr. Jackson admires his little tracts of husbandry as well 

 as myself, and it may be of greater service to him and his 

 Colony, than to yours." The fowl meadow grass has at 

 last made its appearance. Another year we shall judge 

 better of it." — Thus far friend Collinson, you may expect 

 the papers in a post or two. If you make any use of them, 

 you will take care not to mention any thing of the author. 



The bearer is my son, who desired an opportunity of pay- 

 ing his respects to you in his return from Boston. He 

 went by sea. 



