
          by a visit from Dr. Pickering,
a very talented & interesting &
agreeable man. I am only sorry
my son was not at home, but
he is on a visit in the North.

I am much disposed to agree
with those Botanists who consider
not really district generically
from Sequoia, but the [habit?]
is very different, & naturally it
is as distinct as many genera
of Conifers. There may also be
differences in the flowers. The
question now a days is what
is to constitute a genus (let alone
a species), in plants. I am 
still puzzled about the new
Torreya. Botanically there
seems no difference between
that & the original species
but look at the plant & the 
[finish?], & it seems preposterous
to consider them identical.

You should come & see the
        