Charles Bessey, Letters, 1880

Prof. C. E. Bessey

Iowa Agricult. College

Ames Iowa

Amherst 26 Aug. 1880.

My dear Sir

[Please?] to accept my best [?] for your Botany. It astonishes me that you have been able to take so wide a view, at this day of special studies. There is but one defect that I notice in the book – + that is that your publisher has used such [heavy? / leady? / heady?] paper. But I am a specialist – + I can but hope to learn of you in regard to the larger part of the volume, + hope to do so.

Should anything occur to me in regard to matters with which I am familiar, it will give me pleasure to communicate it.

Truly yours [?] [?]

Prof. Bessey.

Second Geological Survey of Pennsylvania.

J. Peter Lesley, State Geologist, 1008 Clinton Street, Philadephia

[?] [?] Co. Pa. Aug. 23rd 1880

J. C. White, Assistant Geologist

Prof. C. E. Bessey Iowa Agr Coll.

Dear Sir –

Your [?] of the [?] was forwarded to me, and has just been [read?]. Many thanks for your kindness in sending a copy of your Botany. I have no doubt of its eminent value and shall take great pleasure in perusing it and giving you my opinion of its merits when I return or Morgantown about Oct. 1st.

Very Truly Yours, [?]

If not delivered within 10 days, to be returned to

[?] Aug 23 [?]

U.S. Postage Three Cents

Prof. C. E. Bessey Iowa Ag. College Ames Iowa

Fall Term begins first Wednesday of September. Spring Term begins last Wednesday of March. Winter Term begins first Wednesday of January. Commencement second Thursday of June.

West Virginia University.

Morgantown, W. Va. Oct. 29th 1880

Prof. C. E. Bessey,

My Dear Sir –

On my return from my geological work in Iowa. I [?] awaiting me the copy of your "Botany for High Schools & Colleges". Many thanks for your kindness.

My examination of the volume has led to nothing but admiration in the highest degree. It fills completely what has [?] been a wide gap in American Botanical works. While not so labored as Sachs' it covers substantially the same ground in a much clearer and more explicit style.

The wealth and beauty of illustration

the compost and systematic arrangement, but above all its succinct and perspicacious style, eminently fit it for a text-book in the higher study of Botany, and I shall certainly adopt it here.

Again thanking you for your kindness to me.

Very truly yours [?] [?] [?]

Return to N. H. Winchell, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, If not delivered within 10 days.

[faded stamp]

U.S. Postage Three Cents

Prof. Charles E. Bessey Ames Iowa.

The Geological and Natural History Survey of Minnesota.

Minneapolis, Minn., 30 Aug. 1880

Prof Charles E. Bessey Ames, Iowa

I know of nothing in the English language that can take the place of your manual of structural botany. [In?] the rapid [?] of the [?] [?] the [component?] [?], more than [?] with its [?] cheapness, the study of the [?] at structure of plants in this country is brought