Bandelier, Ad. F. 

 1879, 2fth June. 

 Highland, 111. 



TRANSLATION 



Dear Dr. , 



Very much surprised to receive your note of yesterday, I hurry to 

 express my thabks for it as well as for the cacti, which I shall take 

 this evening to my better half. Our exposition seems to he marvelous since 

 i. e. all species we have (50-60) grow especially well, and even if the 

 collection is so small it still contains some large and not flowering specimens, 

 This spring we enjoyed very -uch the Epiphyls. 



As it looks now, 10-14 "Grandifloras" will open up at the same time, 

 however it is difficult to say anything in advance. One of the plants has 

 18 candles (approximately), whether they will open all or how many at the 

 same time, is hard to say. In any event, I shall send you a wire if one of 

 the important candles should open, 



I had had for a long time the intention to visit you and George, however, 



I am so busy here, that it will hardly be possible to think of it before autumn. 



Also, I should have to choose a Sunday for it. I should only be too happy to 



take a few weeks vacation, however, it is impossible, — I wrote to your son 



immediately after the publication of the mourning greetings, and only 



a long time later through Putnam that he also was ill. A *nonth ago my wife 

 was in St. Louis and saw you in Shaw f s Garden, A cousin of ours told her your 



name and at this time learned all that happened. My wife would have taken 



the liberty to approach you, but you moved away too fast. 



Now we hot)e that in case we can ma&e a decent display, the weather won't 

 make the trip ^ere very troublesome. In the evening at 5 or 7-1/2 o'clock 

 you could be here and I shall wait at the depot. — In case Mr. Shaw is interested 

 too, he is of course, very welcome. I have room for both gentlemen. 



With regard to my studies I have nothing new to report. The third Mexican 



