
          San Francisco
 February 11th 1861
 Rec'd [Received] April 1861
 an'd [answered] Apr 1862


 Dr. Torrey,


 Dear Sir, you will excuse me for not 
 answering your letter before, I am glad to know
 You received the little package – there are so
 many mishaps in sending plants and bulbs
 that I almost despair sometimes. As I wrote
 to prof Thurber I am trying to understand the
 Liliacea of this coast and sent him a fine
 package of bulbs, among them are the new soap
 plant that Dr. Kellogg has described under the
 name of Chlorogalum angustifolium, also Liliorhiza
 figured in Mex Bound. (Mexican Boundary) as Fritillaria lanceolata.
 Thurber has sent some to Cambridge and the
 gardner Mr. Buchanan also is evaluating them.
 I hope they will flower this year so that you can 
 study them. I am cultivating all the Cal [California] plants
 especialy [especially] the bulbous plants and have been for the 
 last 8 years, for my recreation between business
 hours. Will you turn to the figure of F. lanceolata
 in Hook. Flo. Bor. Am. [Flora boreali-americana; or, The botany of the northern parts of British America by Hooker, William Jackson, Sir, 1785-1865] and compare with the plate in 
 Mex. Bound. Sur. [Mexican Boundary Survey] is there not some discrepancy?
 I am anxious to get a bulb of F. alba of Nutall
 did you ever see it in cultivation and can it be
 had in your vicinity?


 I have a good collector in Washoe Valley (Virginia
 City) if you wish anything of special [above line: interest] write me.

        