SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 
UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 
WASHINGTON, D. C. 
September 5, 1923. 
Mr. Oakes Ames, 
North hasten, Massachusetts. 
Dear Mr. Ames: 
As usual, I did not make my meaning very clear 
in the letter with regard to the proposed Central American 
trip. Of course I have no intention of slighting the orchids 
or of failing to get specimens of them for you. What I did 
mean to indicate was that I hoped that it would not be ne¬ 
cessary to make complete duplicate sets of everything I col¬ 
lect. That is hard work and it does take so much time that, 
so far as general results are concerned, could better be 
devoted to efforts in other directions. Anyone is bound to 
take duplicate specimens whenever he comes across something 
ospecial interest, but making three or four extra specimens 
of every common plant is drudgery or worse. Not Having to 
make such duplicate sets, I hope it will be possible to 
make a good collection of orchids, especially in ^osta Rica, 
where they say you can not escape them. 
Things have now advanced so that it is possible to make 
some definite plans. I was informed yesterday that the Sec¬ 
retary of Agriculture had approved the allotment of money to 
cover my expenses in Panama, and I shall have ample funds 
for that part of the trip. I shall, of course, get all 
the orchids there that I can. I want to leave here about 
the middle of November, and spend December and January in the 
Canal Jone. I do not expect to get far away from the Zone, 
for the primary purpose of the trip there is the securing of 
data for a flora of the Zone and the adjacent country. 
About the first of February I want to go to Costa Rica 
to spend a couple of months there, or more if Mr. Maxon has 
no objections. In the case of a trip to Central America, 
the greatest expense is steamer transportation, and it costs 
comparatively little 
so that it seems a pity 
not to spend as much time as possible after you once get there. 
Mr. Jimenez and Prof. Tristan expect to make a trip of two 
weeks to a finca high up on the Volcano of Turrial&a, and 
have asked me to accompany them. Thajt ought to be a good 
region for orchids; It is likely that I may also go to 
the Peninsula of Ni-coya on the Pacific Coast, which will not 
be so good for that particular group, probably. Besides 
I want to go to other places up in the mountains. The par¬ 
ticular localities will have to be settled after I get there, 
depending upon the accomodations that are available. I am 
sure that Mr. Jimenez will do everything that he can, and no 
