Asa Gray: His Life and Work. 347 



extracts to illustrate his manner of guiding and instructing. 

 The correspondent had a little plat of ground under 

 observation, which had never been disturbed by man 

 further than in the cutting away of the underbrush and 

 part of the trees ; Dr. Gray was given a list of the herba- 

 ceous plants that were growing on the spot, and here is his 

 reply : 



Your letter of the 12th, so full of interest, was followed this 

 evening by the box, which I wait for daylight before opening. 

 But I will not delay most hearty thanks for your very kind atten- 

 tion to my requests. I am dreadfully pressed with work now, 

 being on the eve of completing a new lecture-room and cabinet, 

 laboratory, etc., here in the Garden, and many things and various 

 workmen have to be looked after, so that I cannot sit down till 

 night, and then am tired enough. . . . 



Your lawn flora is very interesting. Kow, you would do a 

 good thing if you would keep a record of this, and next year note 

 any changes i. e., any overcome, or any new-comers. And so 

 on year after year. I anticipate many changes. But as it is, it 

 illustrates Darwin's remark upon the advantages of diversity. 

 You have vastly more vegetation on the space than could be if 

 restricted to one or few species. 



There are a good many plants on your lawn which I would 

 gladly have in our Garden. . . . 



Xo, I have not Xeroyliyllum, nor tlie lovely Pyxidanthera. I 

 tried both once, and lost them, but I long to try again. Will you 

 help me to them in early Spring ? What did your Penn Yan friend 

 do to make Pyxidanthera grow ? 



Writing of tliese plants brings back most vividly my pine- 

 barren botanizing of 30 to 35 years ago ! . . . 



The above letter was soon followed by another, showing 

 his interest in the correspondent's observations on Drosera. 

 It was understood between Dr. Gray and his correspondent 

 that either could 'ise what the other had written about 

 Drosera and otiier plants. In one of the letters before me 

 Dr. Gray says, ''You can use anything that I say about 

 Drosera for publication, and I want the same privilege." 



. . . About the Drosera longifolia (which the species you describe 

 certainly is). The folding of the blade of the leaf itself arotmd 

 the insect, which I understand you to describe, is very interesting, 

 and I liave copied your statement for publication. . . . 

 I wish I had a pencil-sketch of tliis fly-catching. . . . 

 I am preparing a new edition of "IIow Plants Grow," with 

 three new chapters, viz., 



How Plants move, climb, and take positions. 

 How Plants employ Insects to work for them. 

 How certain Plants capture Insects. 



