
          Among other matters I need hardly tell you I have been faithfully
 at work observing, collecting and making notes on the willows, and have
 this Summer greatly extended the sphere of my observations
 and fully tested the excellence and practical utility of
 my arrangements into Sections &c. which with my additional
 experience I find I cannot mend, it being [added: a] perfectly
 a natural one.


 I have kept an eye to the populars [poplars] especially the Germens [Germs] and
 Stamens.  indeed I now find I never before this Summer fully
 understood their manner of flowering &c and think the generic
 characters it stands in the Books ought to be illustrated with notes.
 The species differ in the form of the fruits, and in the number of
 stamens. Populus tremuloides has from 8 to 10 stamens while
 another species P. angulata [Populus angulata] has from 60 to 70. I have counted
 them from 55 to 75! Nuttall takes no notice of the number
 of stamens in Loudons Cyc [Encyclopaedia of plants] p [page] 818 the [added: no. of] anthers given are 8  0
 and Hooker Brit Fl [British Flora] gives the same number.


 As to the time of flowering of plants, when there is any remarkable
 difference in time, that is where the Books ae not correct, I
 have noted such differences Their Geum strictum flowers
 with us in May and June, and never so late as stated in
 your flora though this may be the case far north.
 Poa aquatica also flowers here in June. I should think
 that in several instances the time of flowering had been
 given solely from plants collected in N [New] Hampshire and Canada
 instead of New York and the Eastern States on the Atlantic
 Coast.


 It strikes me the Poa aquatica would be an excellent grass
 to cultivate in such places where only useless Carices grow,
 and it [added: would] take their place. I find Horses and Cattle are very fond
 of this species of Poa. Has Dr Gray kept a watchful eye on all
 these matters? It seems to me he ought to make out a popular

        