SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 
UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 
WASHINGTON, D. C. 
TFan-UBhyr 7, 1925. 
Mr. Oakes Ames, 
B o s t on, Mr s s a c hus e 11 s. 
Bear Mr. Ames: 
Yesterday I had a rather Interesting letter 
from Anastaslo Alfaro, in which, among other things, there 
appears the following: 
"If you can obtain some publication by MhiiAaASonpon 
the orchids of Costa Rica, I should appreciate it very 
much, ''or I wish to be able to recognize other genera 
than the ornamental plants that are treated in the manuals 
of the European gardeners." 
He already has the work of Cons tat in, which I sent 
him, and I should think that would take up most of the 
genera. Probably what he wants is something upon the species 
If there is anything besides your own publications that 
would be useful to him, I should be glad to know of it, 
and will make an effort to send it to him. Incidentally, 
I have made good use of Constatin's book, and have sent 
a number of copies, half a dozen or more, to Central A- 
merica. Mr. Powell was much pleased with it. If Schlecht 
er's book were not written in German (which few people in 
Central America read) it would be useful, but if I have 
been correctly informed, it is rather expensive. 
Bon Anastasio says further: 
"Bon Alberto (Brenes) has continued sending orchids 
to Berlin, and Br. Schlechter recently has sent here a 
plant collector, Mr. "ydow, who is waiting Here for Don 
Alberto to take him to San Ramon, which seems to be an 
inexhaustible mine from the standpoint of plants. If 
Mr. Ames delays publication upon our orchids the Germans 
will get priority." 
Br. Arthur, when he w r -.s here the other day, told me 
that Sydow was going to Costa . ica to collect rusts. He 
seemed to be quite worried about it, but he said that he 
was unable to understand why he should go to Costa Rica, 
whose rust flora is cornparatively well known, when there 
are so many other unexplored regions equally accessible. 
Alfaro has bpen sending on several other packages of 
orchids, and I must get them ready to send to you. He is 
certainly taking a great interest in the matter, and 
serves encouragement. He 
I have ever met in Central 
he stated that /eretie had 
latter was a comparatively 
other Swiss who went to C 
Oi 
de¬ 
ls one of the finest men that 
America. In a recent letter 
died a few days before. The 
young man, but like most of the 
ta Rica, he was a victim of 
