2 
however meager the information ?/ould be useful. Let me know whethei 
you think this v/orth while. In case such a circular as this is sent 
out, how is the expense for printing and postage (say 2 or 3 dollars) 
to be met ? Shall I pay the bills and send a bill with vouchers to 
the Herbarium ? 
The only other plan that occurs to me is to make up first a list 
of cultivated plants to be included and then send this list to grow- 
ers, seedsmen, florists and others , asking for criticisms , and the indi- 
cation of omissions. V/hich plan would you think preferable ? 
I send you by this mail a circular of the Hepatic^ Brittanicae, 
which you have probably ali'eady received. Is the Herbarixom getting 
this set. ? If not I think that it ought to begin, if there are any 
funds available for the purpose. An effort should also be made to ob- 
tain, if possible, the first centuries. 
I enclose a letter received some time ago, as you will see from 
the date, from Mrs Britton. I have made no reply to it, and sha,ll make 
none. V/hile I am glad to be well out of the scrape, into v/hich I got 
myself in a moment of impulse,! cannot but feel that the Brittons have 
in this matter treated me with a very great lack of frankness-- -which 
seems to be somewhat characteristic. At the meeting of the AAAS they 
■ were desirous apparently of entering into the discussion of al3 the mi- 
nutiae of my plans as to the proposed Manual ,\7ith never a word tixat 
thQ/ had been planning a book for five years which would come into 
competition with the one I proposed. While they have been exceedingly 
kind to me in sending books and specimens,! must say that any such 
^ disingenuousness (to drav/ it mild) is very repellant . 
