816-East 2nd Street 
Tucson, Arizona 
Nov. 3, 1940 
Dr. I .M. Johnston, 
Arnold Arboretum, 
Jamaica Plains, 
Massachusetts. 
Dear Dr. Johnston: 
Dr. Shreve read your letter to me some time ago ) 
and I am very happy to hear that you found such a Bonanza of 
plants in northwestern Ooahuila, despite the other misfortunes 
that befell ycur party. 
I suppose you have heard about our trip through 
Dr. Shreve. I can assure you it was about as interesting and 
varied a trip as I have ever made, and I have been in southwest 
China, Formosa and the southwestern deserts on several trips 
of my own. T don't believe Dr. Shreve will take the Buick '37 
on such a trip again. We could have made much better progress 
in his 1925 Willys-Knight. By rights one ought to have a car 
with a foot and one-half clearance and then you could go almost 
anywhere. 
I have prepared a sketch map showing our trip and 
an itinerary that may be useful to you. 
Concerning the plants that Dr. Shreve sent off last 
week to you and which you are probably just beginning to examine 
I wish to say that I believe the customary 15 cents per plant 
for Mexican plant material is a reasonable price for material 
8s selective and rare as I trust you will find this lot to be. 
As I am unemployed at present and pretty low in 
cash I shall anxiously await your reply. 
Give my best regards to my good friend Metcalf. 
Yours very sincerely. 
Ernest R.Tinkham 
