Copy. 
^y dear Maxon: 
Culebra, C.Z. Panama 
(P.O.B.47). 
There is a mail for U. S. tomorrow, the first one, I under>^.' 
stand, since our arrival, Last evening, I wrote my first report to the 
Secretary, Smithsonian Inst, and tried to make it as plain as possible in 
a few words that your coming for a few weeks would greatly help ray work. 
The blooming season has just started on the Pacific side, and I coul* 
not possibly attend to the harvest all by myself. I had my first ex¬ 
perience on the 31st when 84 species were collected in a radius of less 
than 50 m..without taking everything. When in Washington I wanted you to 
come so as to have a few good collecting days in your company. Now I 
realize that your coming is of immense importance for the furthering of m 
work, if this has to be accomplished in the next 12 months, A skilled 
collector as you are, coming just at the dritial time, i.e, February and 
March, will do more toward this end, than any one of less ability during 
the whole year. 
I am not at all sure about my getting Tonduz or Biolley's son as per- 
mament assistant. ^ ^ ^ ^ 
As to arrangements here, everything has been very nice. I have for 
the present2 rooms on the top floor(3d) of the hotel, which I hope to 
exchange laterfor a whole house. Not that I intend to remain here alto¬ 
gether. There is little to do between Colon and Panama, as almost every¬ 
thing is secondary growth and I intend to make trips to several outlying 
districts during this month. 
Please try to be here by ^eb, 1st. Let me know one week in advance 
of your arrival, so that I can get a pass and avoid for you all the lit¬ 
tle annoyances we have been submitted to on our arrival at Colon. 
Bring credentials as we did: they seem to be useful. You will also 
need your sheets, pillow-cases, towels.blanket, etc. The I. C. C. gives 
the rest. Meals cost 30 / each and are very good, at least here. 
-tf- ^ *■ -#7 -i(r 
(signed) H.Pittler, 
