
                                     West Chester, Penn. Aug. 5. 1844


 My dear Sir,


                 Your favor of the 8th [illegible] came to
 hand on the 11th, and I am much indebted for the
 various intelligence it affords, of what is doing in
 the Botanical world.  I regret very much that it is
 not in my power to meet your wishes fully,  respecting
 the specimens you ask for, of obolaria, [Fraximus?],
 & Gentiana.  The [progress?] of Agriculture, & clearing
 of woodland, in this immediate vicinity, have rendered
 the obolaria scarce; and on looking at my collections,
 I find no specimen with mature fruit. It is too
 late in the season, now, to find it; but next June,
 if that would answer, I have no doubt it could
 be had.  If we all live, we can see.  I have no male
 flowers of Fraximus.  The F. [sambucifolia?] is also
 becoming quite rare, in this neighborhood.  With
 respect to the Gentiana [ocholenca?], I sent away,
 to correspondents in Europe, all my Chester County
 specimens - trusting to replace them: which, however,
 I have not yet done. Having an opportunity by
 one of my sons, who goes to New York today, I have
 sent a small parcel, to the car of Wiley & Putnam, for
 you; which was the best I could do.  It contains a
 specimen of Fraximus pubescens, in fruit - some obolarias
 in flower, collected many years ago - a poor specimen of
 Gentiana [orbicularis?], from N. Carolina; which agrees
 well with ours, only is much smaller - & some sadly
 worm eaten specimens of G. sapronaria.  These, however,
 may serve to show the habit of the species.  I will try
 to procure both these Gentians for you, this autumn.

        