
          
 Hooker has been sick, which will account 
 for his silence. Tuckerman brings a (like) 
 parcel for you, which I will bring to your you 
 in a week or so, or else (if delayed) send to N.Y. [New York]. 
 Another steamship will soon be in, and 
 I hope will bring letters. 


 The only way I may interfere with 
 Knieskern is this (carrying out the plan 
 formed last spring); that I must immediately 
 offer [crossed out: to] (and indeed have offered already 
 in many cases) to the Gardens abroad live
 American  plants in exchange for theirs; while 
 Knieskern offers them for cash. So far as 
 we offer the same things I fear I shall thus
 be in Knieskern's way, as the gardens had
 rather spare duplicate plants than cash. 


 If Knieskern also gets plants for us, I 
 [crossed out: must] shall also wish numerous specimens 
 of the greater part, for the very purpose of 
 sending abroad. I state the difficulty 
 frankly, and do not see how it is to 
 be entirely avoided. Provided K. [Knieskern] supplies 
 me as fully as I wish (at rates I can 
 afford) I care not how much he sends 
 abroad, but fear he will care how
 many I send. As he has already an 
 engagement with Hooker, I will of course 
 send no N. [New] Jersey plants to [Ken? [Knieskern?]]. 


 I will do what I can with Nicollet's 
 plants, when they reach me. I should imagine

        