
          Near Columbus Gea [Georgia]
11 Nov. 1847

Dr. [Dear] Sir

I have had my packet ready for
you three weeks, but could not find a
conveyance for it. A friend leaves in 2 or
3 days who promises to take charge of it.
I had to wait thus long to procure specimens
of the fruits of the Asclepias [crossed out: of] added: about] which
I had written to you. The immature follicles  
were gotten in Septr. [September]. I thought then
I would wait for one to ripen its seed
this I collected about the 10th of Octobr. Some
had however previously ripened & bursted
& the seed scattered & some not then ripe.
I forgot to mention in my memorandum
that the old follicle [crossed out: was] [added: is] more persistent
than in any Southern species. I saw last May
old stems with the follicles. The capsules
only: for when the follicle bursts, the seeds
are scattered immediately as in other species.
I make these remarks because I
know, if you decide it to be Lancifolia
you nevertheless will be anxious to know
its habits. Let me remark that has been
one of the most remarkably wet springs
& summers ever known in this country.
From the last of April to the 10th of Septr. [September]
rains were incessant. Many plants were 
in flower longer than I ever observed
before & even longer [added: in] maturing their fruits.
        