
          What is botany good for? is asked by every
parent, guardian, &c.[etc.] If the answer is given that 
it tracks the virtues of plants, the justification
is readily filled. But if you speak of its
advantages in sharpening the faculty of discrimination,
being a pleasing substitute for
frivolous or mischievous amusements &c.[etc.] &c.[etc.] 
you are being laughed at, and get no students. By
introducing the Nat.[Natural] O.[Order] of [?] in this 
way, we may effect an object substantially
useful in addition to holding out a fair and
honest bait. I have had more than two thousand
good students in botany, among them, some
are very correct; all have considerable taste
for books of Natural History. More than
2500 of my own books on botany, including
my little exercises, are now in the hands of
as many persons. This is opening the way
for such works as your [?] three
Volumes octavo Northern States Botany,
to be published in numbers with one 
or two plates to each number. You see I
have laid out your work largely. And
why would not a still larger plan go?
I mean a plan like that of Smith
or Curtis, with a [?] list firstly
obtained. Promise to give one species at 
least in every genus. Or if it were at first
limited to Crypts, all would be subscribe
for that oart at least. Say five numbers
on Crypts or the one or more species in every
genus figured and in large and difficult genera, 
as Syanius, Pusmelic, Spheria &c.[etc.] one 
        