RKBP-162

Greencastle, Ind. March 3 1857

Dr. John A. Kennicott,

Dear Sir,

Your note of the 24th ult came duly to hand, and we were glad to hear from you. You had not answered ours of the 27th of November.

We have looked about us con-siderably since we wrote you, and have been even more successful than we had anticipated.

Dogwoods we can find very eas-ily, and in almost any quantity. We can furnish you of any size we[strikethrough] you may want - the larger sizes being from rather exposed situations - at prices corresponding with the sizes, and at rates too, which we hope would be found to suit. Little

ones - ranging from 15[strikethrough] 4 inches to a foot - at $2- pr 100 or $13pr 1000. Bushes of 3 to 4 feet hight (perhaps we could find 100 or 200) at 8 cents apiece. Large ones - - 6 to 8 feet - at 20 cts each. We can only guess[underlined] at the trouble and labor to which we will be put in obtaining the two larger sizes - and put it at the highest[underlined] we will be likely to charge. Should it be less than we anticipate, you shall share the benefit of it with us. The same remark we[strikethrough] will apply to the Tulip Trees, and all others of larger sizes that we might undertake to furnish. Of course we will use extra care in lifting the trees.

Of Tulip Trees we find quite a number such as you describe - from 2 to 5 or 6 feet high, growing in favorable situations for removal.

Trees of about 3 feet would cost aboout 8 cents apiece, and proportionately as the size increases. The largest size you want we would put at about 20 cents each.

Beech is very scarce we could send you a few small ones at the same rate as the little Tulip trees.

We can procure you any quan-tity of small Lindens or Basswood, beautiful plants - and of Horn beam or water beech, which has quite a fine effect as an ornamental hedge, at $10 pr 1000. We have also a few hundred yellow birch, which we would put at the same rate as the soft maples. Also we could procure a few specimens of most any of our native forest trees - Ash, Walnut, &c, should you desire them.

Do you want Peach stones? We have a lot which we kept over from the crop of 1855, having a surplus, and wishing to lay up in case of failure last year, They have been out all winter, through snow and freeze and rain, and ought[underlined] to be well frosted, though we have not examined - of which we would [word struck through] spare you five or six bushels at $2 pr bushel. We have not room for all of them this year - and could easily spare them if wanted -. We will make out and forward in due time a list of what we would want in exchange - and will take great pleasure in forwarding promptly whatever you may want of us.

Yours Respectfully W. H. Larrabee, for Larrabee & Place.

P.S. What would you charge for Bartlett Pears by the doz. - dwarf and standard?

[stamped] Northwestern University Evanston. Ill. [Rob]ert Kennicott. Curator of M[useum]

[partial postmark] CHEEN M IND.

[written] Dr. John A. Kennicott, "The Grove". Garden & Nurseries, West Northfield, Cook Co Ill

[stamped] Northwestern Univ[sity] Evanston. Ill. Robert Kennicott. Curator of Museum

[page turned, written] Larabbee & Place