
          botanist does not value them 
 so highly as the sciolist may.
 I have early been taught this
 inordinate love for them & I
 have sometimes shown it by too
 earnestly seeking the.  
 mea culpa.  I will not deny it nor
 extenuate it.  But I am sorry for it
 & I hope I shall outgrow it.


     Lastly, I beg you to assume Dr
 Chapman that he could hope taken
 no course more acceptable to
 me than he has taken in sending
 the plants first to Mr. Covey rather
 than laying out some for me at
 [illegible]. Every plant that has been
 under Mr. Coveys eye acquires addition-
 al value to me.  I only regret
 the labor imposed on Mr. Covey
 & the unforseen circumstances
 [illegible] from the affair.


                   Yours ever,


                              I.F. Holton


 (Please return this.  I.F.)
        