61
Biological Department Professors C. E. Bessey M.Sc. Ph.D. Botany F. E. L. Bray B.Sc. Zoology M. Stalker B.Sc. V.S. Anatomy D.S. Fairchild M.D. Pathology Assistant H. Osborn B. Sc. Entomology
Iowa Agricultural College
Ames Sept 4th 1880
Dr. [illegible] My Dear Sir
I am preparing a paper for the American Naturalist on the purpose of botanic al science in the United States during the year 1879. Knowing that your father, Dr [illegible] is now away in [illegible] write to you [illegible] that you will ascertain what botanical contribu tions seen made by [illegible] during that year. I shall be under many [illegible] also for copies of such contributions when [illegible].
[illegible] all in my hands by the 10th or 15th of this month [illegible] C. E. Bessey
62
Ellis to Bessey
[?] [N.?] [?] Feb. 23, 1880
My Dear Sir
Your favor containing check for $[7?]. for [Cent.?] III. is safely [read?] for which please accept my thanks. It is also very gratifying to me that you are pleased with the work. I mean to do the best I can to get out a valuable collection. I am glad to hear that you will probably be able to do something at collecting the [coming?] [Leader?]. You spoke of a [jar?] of Puccimia graminis – perhaps you will be able to get that for me another season
63
[2]
also a good supply of [Pnecimia solida?] [?] and probably many other things you will meet with in your neighborhood.
The books for [Cent.?] IV. are all finished + the material ready and in a few days I expect [the?] printing will be done [when?]. I shall go on with [Cent.?] IV. as fast as I can. Nos 1—38 in [Cent.?] IV. will be [?] [?] — among them Polyporus volvatus [Pts.?] 34–57 [Sphaeronemes?] 58–83 [Dematier?], [Mucidrines?] [?] 84–400 Discomycetes embracing some very interesting species such as Peziza [gracilopes?] [?]
64
[3]
Pez. [?] + P. nyssaegena [?] spec. The last [groups?] from old [drafts?] of [Nyssce?] [??] [burned?] in the [?] under [???] [?] [?] in [??] [?] [?] — also 4 species of the [Friesian?] genus Ombrophila.
The material for [Cent.?] V. is also mostly ready. This will be made up principally of [Sphaenaces?] + Discomycetes. I hope to have a copy of [Cent.?] IV. ready for you by the 1st of May next—possibly sooner.
It was through some [?] that the title page of [Cent.?] III. does not agree entirely with
65
the [specc.] I hardly know how it was myself but somehow between Prof. Fardew + myself it came out as it is. It will be well to add some explanatory note in the next [Cent.?] of [?] which will probably be [Cent.?] VI..
The Peronospora Halstedii was in rather scanty supply + if you meet with it another season I should like a good supply so that I can [?] out additional [specc.?] in another [Cent.?]