
          Manchester, N.J. 28th March 1844


 My Dear Friend!


 You parcel was duly received
 by the kindness of Rev. Mr. Schenck, for which I tender
 you many thanks. -


 The weather for some weeks
 has been mild and some of the earliest blossoms
 are beginning to show themselves Alnus serulata was
 fully out on the 14th Inst. Draba verna about the 18th
 and Pyxidanthera barbulata & Acer rubra, now.


 A few days since whilst some of the [workmen?]
 were engaged in removing a body of Coal [Braze?] in
 the site of the Old Federal Furnace for the purpose
 of levelling a place to locate a new barn, I found
 the tubers and subterranean stems of a species of
 Smilax some 7 - 8' but below the surface where they
 had been imbedded in all probably 20 & perhaps 40
 years without sending forth stems above the surface
 and yet they were in a fine state of preservation
 and all alive - You inquire concerning the
 Pyrola uliginosa - I have never found it in
 any other locality than Oriskany Swamp where
 it grows sparinly. . and the petals are always
 purplish. - 


 I am working at my plants as much
 as I can find leisure time. I have a parcel for
 Mr. Field and am adding to it continually. - I have
 a large number of sets of Grasses & Cyperaceous plants
 mostly in sets of 25 each. - I shall be obliged to
 trouble you with my Compositae - For I have not
 yet studied them not having that part of the
 Flora. - I am happy to learn that Dr. Gray is 
 succeeding so admirably in his Lowell Lectures, &
 indeed he cannot do otherwise than succeed if his
        