interpretation of john bartram's garden by - University of Delaware ...

which are a great prejudice to these
flowers in the Spring
John Bartram to Peter Collinson, Play 1, 1763
for I have thousands of ye common sorts
(of Bulbs) which may be sent alive to
ye utmost parts of ye earth with onely
nailing up in a dry box.
Compost ing
Dr. J. Fothergill to John Bartram, Play 1, 1769, Wildman
Transcriptions
I think there is a shorter method
and less expensive of making a natural
soil for all your wild plants than is
generally knswn. In the Autum collect
a large quantity of the new fallen leaves
of all sorts of trees. Dig a hole in a
vacant spot & fill it with layers of
leaves and layers of earth dug out of the
hole. Do this every fall of the leaves
and a good compost will be formed in
which a11 sorts of seeds and plants will
flourish that are natives to the country.
If the earth dug out of the hole is not
sandy, this had better be thrown away
and the hole filled with leaves & sand.
It will be proper that this shou1.d
lye to rot two years before it is used,
but by making such a preparation annually
enough will be at hand for every purpose.
Herbarium Specimens
Peter Collinson to John Bartram, January 24, 1735, Wildman
Transcriptions
. . , gather Branches or Sprigs of the
Plant then 2n flower with their Flowers
on eC with their seed Vessells fully
Formed for by these Two Charisticks the
Genus is Inown that they belong to
Then take these & Spread them between
the sheets of Brown paper Laying the
Stems Straight Zc Leaves Smooth & Replar
& when this is Done putt a 111oderate
Weight on a Board the Size of the Faper
in Two Days Remove the Specimens into
the Other Quire of Brown paper keeping
the Weight on & then in a Yeek or Two
being pretty well dried Convey them thence
into the Quire of Whited Brown paper
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