Mr. Oakes Ames-3. 
Is there an illustrated, catalogue of orohids that can 
"be obtained here or abroad? A gentleman in the custom house 
in Guatemala City is anxious to obtain one, and as I may have 
to pass through that custom house again, I should like to get 
it for him, if possible. If such a publication is available, 
I shall be glad to purchase it for him. 
Since my return, I have done a little work upon the Cen¬ 
tral American Flora. Professor Hitchcock.expects to take up 
the grasses soon, and when they are completed, I shall try 
to get the first part, up to the palm3, ready for the press. 
The palms are a great obstacle at present, but if nothing 
else oan be done, I shall have to prepare some fragmentary 
account of them myself. 
It is a great pleasure to hear that you are progressing 
so rapidly with the orchids, which are doubtless the most im¬ 
portant group, and the most difficult with the possible ex¬ 
ception of the palms. I am very glad to hear that the matter 
of" illustrations is progressing so favorably* It seems a 
pity not to use all the orchid illustrations available, when 
we consider how difficult it is to get them and how im¬ 
probable it is that such an opportunity will happen again. 
Certainly an illustration of each genus oan be used, and more 
I think in the larger genera. If-the drawings can be combined 
into full-page plates, almost any number can be used, I think. 
In such a case, I do not see why it might not be possible to 
publish illustrations of even all the species. It is very 
unsatisfactory to use text illustrations which necessitate 
resetting of type, for the cost of printing then is nearly 
doubled,"at least at the Government Printing Office, where the 
ordinary cost of printing is outrageous, in comparison with 
that done in private establishments. If the drawings are in 
such shape as to extend, singly or placed side by side, across 
the page, or be collected in a full-page plate, the restting 
of type is unnecessary. I do not know in what form, with re¬ 
gard to size and parts of the plant represented, you are pre¬ 
paring the drawings, and if I had some knowledge of this, I 
could perhaps give a more definite idea of the number of il¬ 
lustrations that could be accommodated. 
Please let me know of any way in which I may be of assis¬ 
tance in the furtherance of your work, for it will be a privi¬ 
lege to be of any service possible in its successful accom¬ 
plishment . 
Sincerely yours, 
\ 
Paul C. Standley 
Assistant Curator, 
Division of Plants. 
