180 Alexander Goodman Afore. 



CHAPTER XXV. 



BOTANICAL CORRESPONDENCE. 



[1865-1866.] 



IN the " dry" work of compiling the " Cybele Hibernica," 

 correspondence with other Irish botanists was not more 

 than (comparatively speaking) an insignificant factor. Yet 

 in itself it was by no means trifling in amount. Many of 

 his letters to Mr. S. A. Stewart, of Belfast, have been pre- 

 served, and some of them are too characteristic not to be 



quoted : 



KILLYBEGS, DONEGAL, 



May 2$th, 1865. 



MY DEAR SIR, Your letter has only just reached me, having been 

 delayed at Glasnevin. I am extremely obliged to you for a sight of the 

 interesting variety of Allium ursinum. I never before heard of its 

 producing yellow flowers, and I think the circumstance very curious. 

 I have just been looking through the marked copy of the Flora Belfast., 

 which you so kindly annotated for me, and I venture to enclose you a 

 few notes which I made concerning some of the scarcer plants. If you 

 could, without much trouble, obtain specimens or additional informa- 

 tion respecting a few of them, or any of them, you would be doing us a 

 very kind service ; but, at the same time, I would not ask you to take 

 much trouble. If, in the course of the summer, you should fall in with 

 specimens, any rough fragment would be sufficient in most cases, just 

 to make sure if the species is doubted. You have already given us 

 so much valuable help, that I am quite ashamed to trouble you any 

 further. I have been taking a few weeks' holiday, but I hope to return 

 to Dublin very soon. This country is not at all rich in botanical 

 rarities. I believe the northern parts of Donegal are better. With 

 many thanks, yours sincerely, A ^ MORE 



GLASNEVIN, 



July 25th. 



MY DEAR SIR, I still think your supposed Ranunculus fluitans is 

 only a form of pseudo-fluitans; but if you could dry a good specimen 

 with flowers and fruit, I will send it to Professor Babington, and then 

 the question will be settled. Would you think it too much trouble to 



