
          Rcd. Jany 6th

Oriskany Ded 23rd 1839

Dear Sir.

I have just put up the plants contained in this
box with the anticipation of sending them in a few days by
the Oriskany Manufacturing Co teamster who is carrying cases of cloths
to New York. I should have sent them before but the
navigation on the canal has been rather uncertain for a month
or more. I send you a few of those plants which I recollect
you wished me to procure, but by far the greater part you wanted
I believe are not to be found in this region.

You will oblige
me much by sending me the names of those I send you at this time
particularly the Solidagos, Asters and [Salisis?]. Of the two
former I have [but find?] that I had not collected previously, got
without making them out to my own satisfaction. Of the latter
viz. the Salix genus I have taken much pains to procure all
the species found here yet & think I have failed in a great
measure from two causes particularly firstly from a total ignorance
of the species of this genus & secondly from unforseen accidents
which occured after beginning to collect the specimens. I commenced
making collections of the blossoms about the 10th April
and at the same time [added: carefully] marking the shrubs or trees from
which they were taken. These collections were principly made
along the banks of the canal, and on the banks of the creek.
Along the banks of the canal the shrubs thus marked were 
in several instances anihilated by drivers who cut them off to
beat their horses almost to death  and some of those on the banks
of the creek were cut down for withs or some thing else used
probably by the proprietor of the soil or by fishermen passing
that way consequently I have more blossoms than leaves.

And those without leaves I did not think worth while to
send. No. 4 is that species which early bore staminate flowers
        