^.T. 61.] TO A. DE CANDOLLE. 625 



nominally devolve other university work in part upon 

 an assistant, surrendering at the same time a part of 

 my salary, hoping thereby to purchase time. We shall 

 see if it be possible. But I have to begin with a new 

 assistant, who will need training ; but will then, I 

 hope, take much off my hands. My youthful assistant 

 of the past two years goes in a week or two to Europe, 

 to study in some German university for a year or 

 two ; to Strasburg, I think, unless he first should go 

 to Sweden, and there study Algae, with Agardh, if he 

 will receive him. He takes a fancy to lower Crypto- 

 gamia. His name is Farlow, an honest, good fellow. 

 He will most likely be in Switzerland in the summer ; 

 and I shall give him a letter of introduction to you, 

 whom he will wish to know. But take no trouble on 

 his account, except to introduce him to Dr. Miiller, 

 from whom, as a working lichenologist, he coidd learn 

 much. 



"Well, Mrs. Gray and I are going to set out, two 

 weeks hence, for California. We both need the change, 

 and are curious to see the country, having never seen 

 even the Mississippi ! The scientific meeting was to 

 have been held there ; but there is now a hitch about 

 it. We go, however, at all events, and expect to pass 

 a month in the Yosemite Valley, and elsewhere in the 

 moimtain region. I wish you were here to go with us. 

 Hooker was counted on to go with us ; but the very 

 bad state of his mother's (Lady Hooker) health, and 

 the state of affairs at Kew prevent it. . . . 



I hope soon to receive your " Melanges historlques," 

 which are sure to interest me. If I can I will write 

 you a long letter from California, or Utah, or the 

 Rocky Mountains ! — more interesting than this scrawl 

 from yours ever, Asa Gray. 



