1846] BOTANICAL CORRESPONDENCE. 297' 



succeed. Never was botany at so low an ebb as now in this place. 

 A non-resident Professor, who only comes here for five weeks (as 

 he calls it), going away on Saturday morning in each week, and 

 returning Monday evening. I have been taking a party of our few 

 naturalists for a short excursion on each of the last four Saturdays, 

 but never got more than twelve to accompany me, all of them quite 

 beginners. Now all are going away for the summer, so there is an 

 end to trips with them. We start for Iceland on about the 15th 

 inst., and hope to get back in August. I do not expect to get much.. 

 — Yours very sincerely, Charles C. Babington. 



To William Borrer, Esq. 



St. John's College, Cambridge, June 6, 1846. 



My dear Sir, — I do not know what to say to the Allium from 

 Tintagel. It has always appeared to me to be very much like a 

 distinct species, but I do not know upon what character's to found 

 its distinction, unless those given in my Manual are to be depended 

 upon. The crenulated striae in the leaves is a curious difference,, 

 and probably specific. On what characters do you depend ? I know 

 nothing of the authority for Allium rejlexum of Dietrich, and have 

 only seen the name in Steudel. It is a very good name for our 

 plant. What very hot weather ! We have had 82° to-day, and 79° 

 and 80° for several days past. I am leaving home next week 

 (Thursday or Friday), and going with some relations in a yacht for 

 a few weeks to Iceland, hoping to be back by the middle of August. 

 I propose to turn my attention almost entirely to botany, and get 

 as many specimens as I can. I hope that you will be able to tell 

 me more about the Allium on my return, as I shall probably have 

 to print a second edition of the Manual in the autumn or winter. 

 Please also to note down any other things that may occur to you 

 for the improvement of the book. Eemember me kindly to Mrs. 

 Borrer, and believe me to be, sincerely yours, Charles C. Babington. 



To Professor J. H. Balfour, M.D. 



St. John's College, Cambridge, June 11, 1846. 



Dear Balfour, — I leave home on Monday morning, and expect 

 to sail on Tuesday, so please to have anything for "Annals " sent to 

 Taylor. I am much obliged to you for the specimen of Luzula nivea 

 from near Dunfermline. Dr. Dewar is fortunate. You or Brand 

 should go and explore the place where he finds the Luzula, and 

 make out if it is a true native or not. If really native, send an 

 account of its discovery directly as a paragraph to the "Annals," so 

 that we may first publish it. Thank you and your pupil for the 

 hint about Euphorbia Lathyris. I believe that the seeds are rough.. 



