1849] BOTANICAL CORRESPONDENCE. 307 



quinate leaves than was supposed to be the case. It is, perhaps, not 

 a very uncommon plant, as I now possess it from several distant 

 parts of the country. I shall deposit these three specimens in my 

 herbarium, and should be very glad another season to know more 

 concerning the brambles of your district,* which I suspect is rich. 

 I have myself found some curious bushes in the parish of Llanwarne, 

 when visiting my friend Mr. Lingwood, of Lyston. Have you got 

 my " Synopsis of Rubi " ? If not, I will send you a copy. — Yours 

 very truly, Charles C. Babington. 



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



St. John's College, Cambkidge, March 14, 1849. 



Dear Balfour, — Thanks to you for sending me Hardy's papers to 

 look at. I return them, as the Society may like to keep unpublished 

 papers, or he may apply for them again. Neither of them is at all 

 worth publication, and they both are the work of a good observer 

 totally unacquainted with the literature of his subject. I have made 

 an abstract of them, and shall replace Evans' with mine if I find it 

 in my idea better. You will have observed that the hibernacular 

 buds of Epilobium are fully described in the "Bot. Gaz." p. 12. 

 Hardy's remark upon Sonchus oleraceus has been of use to me, for, 

 although wrong in his deductions, he has hit upon a point of interest 

 which has been almost universally overlooked. I presume in the 

 new Catalogue that you will omit the numbers marking rarity near 

 Edinburgh and the times of flowering. The general arrangement of 

 the Catalogue seems simple enough. Set a clerk to transcribe the 

 genera, species, and varieties out of my book, with their orders and 

 numbers, leaving a very broad margin for alterations of name, correc- 

 tions, and additions, of which I have a considerable number. If you 

 like to get this done, it may then be sent here to me by " Kennett's 

 Parcel Despatch " from 25, Clyde Street for six or eight pence. I 

 would then carefully make the alterations that seem requisite and 

 return it, or bring it back to you in person. I can do my part better 

 here than at Edinburgh. It is my present intention to spend the 

 month of July at Edinburgh, and should like to form a plan to visit 

 Sutherland or the Orkneys with you in August. Think about it. 

 I look for your "Manual" with interest. Unfortunately, "Wilson 

 has got the start. The " Transactions " are getting on, but you 

 know the descriptive part of Spruce is not yet printed. When that 

 is done, there will be about enough for another Part. I wish Brand 

 would allow us an extra sheet this time, as the papers are long, and 

 it will not do well to break oflf in the middle of them. I have had 

 some correspondence with George Lawson. He seems a moderately 

 good botanist, and one likely to improve in Edinburgh under your 

 hands. I am glad to learn that there is a chance now of the British 



* Ross, Herefordshire. 



