Farlo^? encourages me to think he will be one of these speakers. President 

 Brainerd has consented to say a few words> presumably on Eew Engl-and as a 

 field for further botanical exploration. Mr,. F. S. Collins will, I believe, 

 speak a few it-oirients in light vein on the history of the New England Botani- 

 cal Club. 



The coiEffiittee on arrangements hopes very much that you will be willing to 

 speak a few moinents. We would suggest as an appropriate their.e soirie account 

 of the earlier Kew England botanists,, such as Cutler, Bigel.ow, Cakes, Boott, 

 and Tuckerman. Proin experience I feel sisre that no feature of such a gath- 

 ering would be more welco'ine to the visitors frcnri a distance. For instance 

 if when the American Association met at Sew Orleans some local botanist 

 had given us a little account of Josiah hale, Ridley, or other early bota- 

 nists and collectors in Louisiana, it would have been most interesting. We 

 of other regions know of theci only as names. There is every reason to sup- 

 pose that our guests at the approaching irseeting, many of whom will be of 

 the younger generation, would MgK be siiTiilarly interested in hearing some- 

 thing of early botanical work in our region. 



It is probable that prof, Fernald and perhaps Prof. Ganong may also be 

 asked to speak. 



?iith kind regards, I am 



Sincerely yours, 



