
          as they are in Carex. The only difficulty is in the question what
 is a genus. If it is nothing more than a convenient number of
 species united under a well defined character, taken from the
 more important parts of the plant or animal, as seems to be the
 prevailing opinion nowadays, the genus Carex which contains
 the inconvenient number of 300 or 400 may with propriety be
 divided.


 Dr. John Torrey 
 Military Academy
 West Point


 William Cooper
 Feby [Feburary] 13th 1826
 Recd Feb 16th
 Ansd July 27


 D.C. is not among the books


 If you read as far as this remember to answer my questions
 I hope we shall soon see you in town.
 Yours
 Wm Cooper
        