St. Louis, Ho. June 20,1879 



My dear Dr. Weber 



Over a year vre have not heard fron each other and I am guil- 

 ty. It was a hard, difflcult year for ne. Düring the tremendous heat 

 of the Summer my vrife took sick and I had to go with her to Lake 

 Superlor, a refreshing and northem cliraate. There.she recoverd to 

 some degree, but when we came hone again', a severe rheumatic fever 

 forced ne lnto bed and for Z\ raonths in the hause. B e fore I coul* 

 <?a out avain, ny son ,be carte violentlv sick with blood-poisonlng (an 

 injury durlng an autopsy ), lost a finger, a^d is recovering orly 

 now after 6 months. Düring this I lost ny «rood wife, who died in 

 Jänuaryj I cannot get over it. AU this - a^d I am over 70 years old- 

 has made ne unable to work, that may explain to you and excuse,why I 

 have not written. 



Desplte all this, I saw during this period 3 Agavae in 

 flowen the flowers of filifera and venlniflora were brought to ny 

 bed site; but I was able to study them. Avave Parryi however fl owered 

 here last month.and I made a thorough exaraination, and had it photo- 

 graphed. One specimen is reserved for you.as soon as I can hope.that 

 it will reach you securely. . 



Purther, I have a number of seeds for you.which you should 

 have had already in March, but it did not work out. Cacti, Agavae, 

 Yuccaejalso Beschorneria . 



You kno™ probably, that Avave gevi^ae Victoria e has been shipped 

 in nasses to Europe (Zürich ?)• D. Parry could not obtain flowers neu 

 fruits, brought ne only sone leaves with their stränge tips.which, 

 by-the-way - Vary. Besides the two known colunnar 6erei ( na rglna tu s 

 and geonetricans he brought flower, fruit and drawlngs of a third.large. 

 much-branched with spiny fruits fron San Luis.which you certainly 

 know too. What raay U be ? His Maoillariae contain beautiful forma 



