RKBP-068

$10.00[underlined] Enclosed

Jacksonville Nov 10 1855

Dear Doctor I have had another long seige down at my farm. Mrs Mullen my Tenants wife died - all the family were sick and broke us all up

I [find?] your two letters and a multitude of others on hand -

The bulbs are also all here and the boys have put them all in the ground

I did not wish more than 20 or 30 of each sort, at most for my own use, or even half a dossen of a sort and a greater variety of sorts would have suited me better - I only wish to line the path I shewed you with as great[underlined] a variety[underlined] of hardy pretty flowers as I can convenatly get - But I presume I can sell the ballance as you propose -

To accomplish my object with my "pet Path" as I desire I shall still want next sping - as follows -

[page turned, stamped] J. Kennicott Brenton Collections

1 A duplicate specimens of 1 White & Orange Liley & one Native The[strikethrough] if it is not the one of our forest which with the tyger I have - 2down Imperial 3dSpecimens of Poenias Except the red which I have 4th sweet scented shrub 5th White Japan Quince 6th White Lilac 7 Fragrant Honeysuckle 8 Clemantis 9 Wistaria 10 Straw Colered & Dwarf yellow Iris 11 Perrenial popy 12 Perrennial sunflower 13 A variety of Fragrant Pinks & Sweet Williams 14 Maserium[underlined] said to be the earliest hardy flower

I want only Duplicate specimens of the above for my own use - but if you choose send on any sorts for sale on commission, I will account to you for them same as for the tuleps and other bulbs - not used by myself that is for the ornament of the path above named -

I have had no time to look at the matter thoroughly since I came home

but I think that of the [bdl?] you sent me I shall use for that purpose the whole of the following

50 Crocuses - $ 31.00 25 Gladiotus 3 13 50 Grape Hyacnths 50 50 Narcessus 2 00 10 Choice Hyacnths 1 80 25 Daffodills 50 $8.93

I shall also use some of the tulips and will account for the rest as you have directed.

I will send the Locusts & [illegible] as Early in sping as practicable as I am afraid to risk it so late now -

I order the above for fear I should forget it in the sping - and if you have any [illegible] fine flowers for said path please send them - But I wish for my own use only Duplicates[underlined] at[strikethrough] for I am too busey to go into the raising of such articles at present - But I can sell for you if you desire so far as I can -

We have another boy, this and other unxpected events kept me from the fair greatly aganst my will - Most splendid they all tell me

(Excuse this) oversight Received of Northern

Well I can only say I am glad you are alive - That they would make you work for nothing I expected - and that you would kill yourself to boot laboring againt wind & tide to carry the thing triumphantly through - I feared -

It is a complete trample all say - and you are still alive & well - so I feel quite satisfied - though I should feel better if you had been used as you ought to be - But this I never[underlined] expected and so am not disappointed -

I enclose ten dollars in paymnt for the above bulbs and a part of the Narcissus - as soon as I can decide what part of the tuleps I can retain I will pay for them also - as[strikethrough] for while I thank you for your kind offer to take pay "in kind" I cannot except it - for all the flowers on my place would no where near pay for that I have already recevd from you - though I think I can send you quite a lot of altheas to which you are quite welcome as I am not in the sale of shrubs except the "Osage" - and that the "Prarie Farmer invented[underlined] you know

Yours truly JB [illegible]

Eyes better but very poor