91 MT. VERNON STREET, 
BOSTON, MASS. 
November 28th, 1905. 
My hear Prof. Collins, 
(Or Dr.?) Thaik you for offer of 
contributions to my Herbarium, but lack of space long ago made me 
decide to reduce, rather than enlarge it— my reduction did not amount 
to much, since I must keep all the Cryptogams, all trees and shrubs -tha. 
-HTTrd, and th-e Apetalae of all kinds-all the Glumaceae,of course—I 
an especially fd>nd of Sedges,though not learned as to them; and all the 
rather difficult family like Cruciferae, Umbelliferae, and the large 
families, with a good many genera,like Rosaceae, and Ranuiaculaceae—and 
by the time I got* that far in my exceptions, £ decided that it was not o 
of much use to throw anything away, and my discarded sheets ,1 believe, 
only comprised one garden mignonette, and afew sheets where the plaits 
were injured by insects./ C at first tried to get along without poisoning 
f am so afraid of poisons, and hate bad smells— then £ used Corrosive 
sublimate, but though C adhered to Dr. Gray's rule 4a-4he £ found it 
much too strong— it effloresced, and made a white incrustat,ion,which I 
tried to wash off with pure alcohol—and afterwards it blackened the 
paper. 
So,although £ occasionally add a plant or two to my Herbarium , £ do 
not make a poirwt of it,except with mosses, sea-weeds, and sedges, also 
rushes and grases, .) X do not possess that faculty to know how far $ 
the plant in hand may vary from the description^ of a species,and yet 
be that species— and what variations,^ i.e. what kind, are counSf or 
most in hindering it from belonging to a species—Color and size are of 
leist laportaMH - r M. 
