34 EARLY UNDERTAKINGS. [1831, 



I regret that the state of my herbarium will not ad- 

 mit of my sending as many specimens of each as I 

 could wish or as would be desirable to you. I shall 

 be able to obtain an additional supply of most of them 

 during the ensuing summer, when it will give me 

 pleasure to supply you with those, or any other inter- 

 esting plants which I may meet with. I send you a 

 few grasses, numbered ; also a few mosses, etc. When 

 you have leisure, you will oblige me by sending the 

 names of those numbered, and rectify any errors in 

 those labeled. If you should be desirous of additional 

 specimens, please let me know it, and I will supply 

 you in the course of next summer. 



You ask me whether I am desirous of obtaining the 

 plants peculiar to New York, New Jersey, etc., or of 

 European plants. I should be highly gratified by re- 

 ceiving any plants you think proper to send me ; and 

 will repay you, so far as in my power, by transmitting 

 specimens of all the interesting plants I discover. I 

 know little of exotic botany, having no foreign speci- 

 mens. I am particularly attached to the study of the 

 grasses, ferns, etc. If you have any specimens to 

 transmit to me, please leave them with Mr. Franklin 

 Brown, Attorney at Law, Inns of Court, Beekman 

 Street, who will forward them to me by the earliest 

 opportunity. 



During the next summer, I intend to visit the west- 

 ern part of this State, also Ohio and Michigan. I shall 

 devote a large portion of my time to the collection of 

 the plants of the places I visit. If you know of any 

 interesting localities, or where any interesting plants 

 could be procured, please inform me, and I will en- 

 deavor to obtain them for you. 



Respectfully yours, ASA GRAY. 



