2ET. 59.] TO JOHN TORREY. 611 



of the grove, and visit the wondrous Yosemite Valley, 

 as yet an arduous journey from San Francisco, but it 

 will soon be within easy reach. 



I see that my writing is very bad, and will stop 

 short. 



Inclosed are seeds of the two passion-flowers which 

 are so good for showing the movements of tendril, 

 both the coiling after being touched, and revolution, 

 etc. Sow in April in your little conservatory, or in 

 hotbed, and you may have good plants for your pur- 

 pose in June. The tendrils show off best under a 

 temperature of 80 or 90 Fahr. P. acerifolia will 

 give you tendrils a foot long, when in full growth. 



I note the uneasiness in England, and the rumors 

 of difference in the cabinet, dangerous times for 

 Gladstone's ministry, but I do hope it will last. 



I suppose your church is all in order, and your 

 cares over as to the rebuilding. . . . 



TO JOHN TORKEY. 



November 4, 1870. 



I have to-day a long letter from Bentham, which I 

 would send to you, but that it is full of Composite 

 queries and statements, which I have soon to attend 

 to. What a worker he is, and what a good one ! 



At last accounts Decaisue and Brongniart were 

 drilling. Rather old sojers, I think ! Cosson 1 had 

 dispatched his wife and daughter and granddaughter 

 to England, and was communicating now and then 

 by balloon-post ! Bentham very well, and working 

 hard at Composite for " Genera." . . . 



I have an advanced class this year, and they come 



1 Ernest Cosson, 1819-1890. Wrote the Flora of Algiers and the 

 Flora of the Environs of Paris. 



