686 TRAVEL IN EUROPE AND AMERICA. [1879, 



The genus Bigelovia, which your father founded on 

 one species, is now one of the most characteristic North 

 American genera, of many species, chiefly west of the 

 Mississippi. 



J. W. Robbins, 1 also of Massachusetts, one of the 

 best and oldest local botanists, died the day before, 

 aged seventy-seven. 



Engelmann (two or three years older than I am) 

 and myself are now the oldest botanists of the coun- 

 try, I believe. 



While I live I am always your devoted, 



ASA GRAY. 



TO GEORGE ENGELMANN. 



CAMBRIDGE, May 22, 1879. 



. . . We go on a trip south to the mountains of 

 Carolina with Canby, Redfield, and this time Sargent. 



It was to have been done whenever Shortia blos- 

 somed. But that stole a march on us by flowering in 

 April. So now we time it for the Rhododendrons, 

 and will see Shortia out of blossom, and we. hope to 

 find new stations. Then I want to look up Darby a, 

 of which only the male is known. Curtis seems to 

 have got it, without flowers, near Lincolnton. Then 

 we are to explore the east side of the Blue Ridge, 

 from the base of Black Mountain to Grandfather, and 

 then cross to the Roan, on which is now the Cloud- 

 land Hotel. 



Oh dear ! now that the time draws near, I wish I 

 could stay at home and finish Parry and Palmer's 2 



1 James Watson Robbins, M. D., 1807-1879 ; physician atUxbridge, 

 Mass. " A most critical student of the botany of New England and 

 northern United States, and especially of the Potamogetons " [A. G.]. 



2 Edward Palmer ; has collected largely in southern Florida and 

 Mexico. 



