SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 
UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 
WASHINGTON, D. C. 
October 4, 1921 
Mr. Oakes Ames, 
North Easton, Massachusetts. 
Dear Mr. Aries: 
Your generous reply to Mr. Maxon's recent letter with 
regard to assistance in the proposed collecting trip to 
Salvador is deeply appreciated, and I shall do my best 
toward making a return for it in material. The amount of 
material that I may be able to collect is scarcely likely 
to be an adequate return, I am afraid; still, so little is 
actually known of the flora of the country that I may, 
after all, be able to turn up something in the way of 
orchids that may be of value. In the case cf other groups 
I know that I can, or at least I can obtain a large number 
of new records for the country. Probably there will be 
some new species, but I do not care so much about those. 
I am most interested in getting economic data and in ob¬ 
taining the vernacular names used in Salvador. In the 
Cyperaceae about 140 species are known from Central America 
and only three from Salvador, while there must be 50 or more 
there. The same is true in other groups, so that there is 
no doubt about getting new records. In the case of the or¬ 
chids I shall certainly make a special effort to obtain 
material. 
% 
I should be glad if you would tell me what it is worth 
while to attempt to bring home in the way of living plants, 
and what, if anything, to disregard. Of course I shall get 
dried specimens of everything I see. I should like also to 
know what you would particularly like to have in the case 
of economic material and what you do not want. Any special 
directions as to the form or quantity of material would be 
appreciated likewise, so that the material may he assembled 
more intelligently. 
Sincerely yours, 
Paul 0. Stahdley / 
Assistant Curator, 
Division of Plants. 
