René Lenormand Rec. Feb. 17 Ans. Jan. 27 1853 



Vire, January 4, 18^ 



Dear Sir, 



I did not answer your very kind and helpful letter of last February 13, eartier, because I 

 was awaiting the arrivai of the plants that you had the kindness to tell me about, so that I 

 could thank you for both. I was also overloaded with of ail kind of work, that arrived 

 without interruption, which made the year drift away, not allowing me to give signs of life. 

 I am today taking advantage of some spare time, to talk with you and to tell you how 

 much I appreciate your benevolent disposition towards me. I am sure it did not dépend on 

 you, not to have begun gathering what you wanted to place in the package, as you most 

 likely wanted to accumulate more material before you sent it. In effect it is better to send 

 larger packages, with more plants, less frequently, as they will give more pleasure and in 

 this way will be less expensive. 



Dear Sir, I am not afraid of asking you for very much, because I will be able to send as 

 much as I receive and in this way we will both benefit from each other. In addition to the 

 spécimen from the Mississippi Valley that you have sent me until now, the ones of New 

 Mexico and Texas will be aprticularly agreeable, because I do not have any from thèse 

 régions. Therefore I am indebted to your extrême kindness. If you could add plants from 

 other régions of America, specially those of the south and west, I would be most greatful. 

 Therefore take ail the time you need to review those of which you have doubles so that 

 you can put aside those that you might be able to dispose of. 



Not only will I be able to offer you plants from Spain and Portugal of which you have 

 none, as you have told me, but also from countries that are further away and that will be 

 of more value when you see them. Among the first would you like ail those that I can 

 dispose of, because of their locality, even though they may also grow in France, or would 

 you like them to be only from the Iberian Peninsula? Or would you also like some from 

 Greece and Dalmatia as well as from the north eastern portion of Germany? I can also 

 obtain some for you from New Holland and from the Cape of Good Hope, if they would be 

 of value to you. I am talking only about phanerogams, because it is thèse that at présent 

 are keeping you busy. Later on, and according to what your heart tells you, we will return 

 to the Algae, thèse will allow me to offer you yet something else. Do not worry about 

 letting me know about your choices, and always be assured that I will do everything that 

 dépends on me to satisfy your needs. Please tell me about the countries that have 

 helped enrich your herbarium and also those where the production of plants is less and 

 therefore their information is incomplète.. At every opportunity, I will try to fill the gaps 

 that may exist in your collection. 



If among your duplicates you should have Cryptogams, please don't forget that I like 

 them as much as I do the Phanerogams therefore please keep them together. There is 

 a family which together with the Algae I prefer and they are the Ferns. Texas, the two 

 Mexicos and California must grow in their mountains and hot and humid for^s, a large 



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