290 



A DECADE OF WORK AT HOME. [1842, 



on this side of the ocean. Having finished my little 

 " Botanical Text-Book " (a copy of which is sent you 

 through the publishers, Wiley & Putnam, who have 

 an office in Stationer's Court, Paternoster Row), and 

 packed up my things at New York, I have just taken 

 possession of my situation at Cambridge. The Bo- 

 tanic Garden, which has a good location, contains 

 over seven acres of land, and the trees have well 

 grown up. It already contains some good American 

 plants, and I shall immediately commence a plan of 

 operations with the view of accumulating here, as fast 

 as possible, the pljaenogamous plants, etc., of the United 

 States and Canada ; and hope to supply you with such 

 of our indigenous species as you may desire. I wish 

 I could know what plants are likely to be acceptable 

 to you, that I may not send you what you already 

 have. I must postpone to next year my contemplated 

 visit to the mountains of Carolina, where I can make 

 a fine collection of interesting plants for cultivation. 

 Perhaps I can also visit Labrador next year. This 

 autumn I must confine myself to an excursion to the 

 White Mountains, to the western part of New York, 

 and to the pine barrens of New Jersey. I shall most 

 gladly share the seeds and roots I collect with you. 

 My good friend Mr. Sullivant, also, promises me the 

 living Sullivantia and many other interesting plants. 



Let me also say, my dear sir, that any duplicates 

 you can spare us from your noble institutioil will be 

 truly acceptable and in the highest degree useful to 

 us, as we have very few exotics and hot-house plants. 

 We have a good gardener, and I think I can promise 

 you that whatever you choose to give us shall be 

 sedulously taken care of. 



Dr. Torrey is now at Princeton. I had the pleas- 



