Hilgard, Eug. W. 

 1859, April 10th 

 Chickasaw Co. , Miss. 



TRANSLATION 



Camp in Chickasaw Co., Miss. 

 10 April 1859. 



Dear Doctor, 



Your letter of March 31st arrived just before my departure from Oxford, five 

 days ago. As you will see from the date, I am again wandering around, this time to 

 the coast which will take about 3 months; £te greatest part of the year I shall spend 

 in the laboratory in Oxford. 



I sent the microscope some time ago to ray agent in New York for sale at the 

 best price. I tested the instrument for its enlarging power and found it very 

 satisfactory; should like to keep it if I could. 



This time I took with me more plant paper than usual and shall collect as much 

 as possible; you are also welcome to all duplicates, if possible. But I am afraid 

 that Theo did not explain to you my standpoint with regard to botany. I cannot do 

 it as official business, but only on the side, at times which rightfully belong to me. 

 As it is, my wagon is already loaded almost to capacity with my things; therefore, 

 I cannot take with me too much paper, especially also because of space . The space I 

 havd, the paper and lack of time do not permit me to collect all species I find; so 

 I shall collect what I think best, since I cannot do any more; also, I cannot take 

 time to look for complete floras, but only what I can collect on my way. As you say, 

 I might miss many things, but there is nothing I can do under the circumstances. 



You must have laughed sometimes about my labels, but you must realize that I 

 always wrote them in a hurry without enough time to study and without any other tools 

 than my eyes and memory; and that after I have not looked up any botany for years and 

 the species I remembered for almost 10 years have been replaced by thousands of 

 foreign ones. Actually, I would not have written down any names if I did not have 

 to kxxs give some designation to enter in my field notes with regard to the 

 geographical areas and soil donditions. Under these circumstances you will have to 

 excuse these misnomjfersj 



I wish you could let me know about a more comfortable press which is easy to 

 open and close and still presses the plants evenly. The old cross pack and cardboard 

 covers I have given up in disgust; I have now two strong frames which cardboards kept 

 together by two leather belts. This is a little better, but still not the thing to 

 travel with. If I couldjust close the package without belts or binders after I put in 

 a plant, I could collect 1/3 more. Hasn't someone invented in these days of railroads 

 and telegraph an improved self-closing plant press or package? 



Greetings to Dora and Georgy from me and greetings to you from your cousin 

 Eug. W. Hilgard 



