Charles Bessey, Letters, 1880

that there were still more. Your arrangements of Groups [?] [?] as a [working?] basis for study; but I hardly think it a very worked improvement on the best of previous arrangements so far as indicating [real?] affinities is concerned. For instance, I do not think the difference in the vegetative state between [?] and [?] is sufficient to place them so wide apart where we take into account their resemblance in their [?] state, coupled with one want of [?] regardless their [?] and other phases of their life history. However, I endorse your arrangements of groups as on the whole equally satisfactory with that of [other?] authors. Perhaps your book is a little too comprehensive for present use as a text-book in our higher schools and even in work of our colleges as Botany is at present taught; but in the hands of a competent teacher I think it is

well [?] to do most excellent service. In my care I think the tendency of some work will be to stimulate in no small degree [?] more thorough, or must be. I will express my meaning better [?] [?] a more [?] toward study of plants [and?] plants' life than has heretofore been the practicing method in most of our schools and colleges throughout the country.

As ever Truly yours A. N. Prentiss.

Transcript of the following letter by Library Staff

Feb. 9th 1880

Prof. C. E. Bessey Dear Sir:

I have been very busy since my return home so that I have not been able to write to you in regard to the etching as I promised. The process is very simple & only requires a little care & practice. The materials necessary are: 1st a steel or copper plate - which can be had ready polished (Plates 8x5 in. cost, copper 75c steel 2.00); 2d, a small handvice; 3d, a spirit lamp; 4th Alcohol, Turpentine, Nitric Acid; 5th a ball of etching ground - wrapped in a piece of silk; 6th a dabber made of kid leather & silk & stuffed with wool; 7th some sheet geletine; 8th a sharp needle set in a wood handle; 9th an etching point: 10th some wall wax (White wax & burgundy pitch - equal parts); 11th a magnifing glass; 12th A straight edge or ruler to serve for a hand rest; to which may be added a burnisher scraper & graver, & plenty of soft clean cotton rags, also asphaltum varnish.

The process is as follows: first clean the plate with turpentine, finishing with alcohol; then fasten the plate in the vice and heat it over the spirit lamp until it causes the etching ground to ooze through the silk, distribute it evenly over the plate with the dabber then smoke it over a candle until the ground becomes sufficiently dark. This preparing the ground requires a good deal of care. Having made the sketches on paper - lay a piece of gelitine over them and trace them with the small needle, then fill in the lines with vermillion or black lead, then place it reversed on the grounded plate, fastened at the sides with wax - and burnish - this will leave the tracings transfered to the plate - reversed. It is now a comparatively simple matter to scratch away the ground with the etching needle - the steel shows in strong contrast to the dark ground. After the drawing is completed to satisfaction - stope out the mistakes with asphaltum varnish. Build a wall of wax around the plate and pour on the acid (say 1 part Nitric to 3 parts Water) - the length of the exposure must vary according to the strength of the acid & copper requires stronger acid & longer exposure than steel. My plates were exposed about 1 3/4 minutes. The best way is to test it on a spoiled plate each time. By pouring off the acid & stopping out the lights - very beautiful effects can be produced but I having not attempted this yet.

The principle pecautions are to spread the ground evenly and securely - it must be neither too hot nor to cold. I had a good many failures in spreading grounds; care must also be taken not to scratch the ground - or there will be some engraving on the plate not desired, and the acid should be watched carefully & not left on too long. The burnisher scraper & graver are useful in making alterations after the plate is etched. New grounds can be spread and additions made as often as necessary. Should you come to Davenport I can show

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you all the above much better than I can describe it - and in less time. It is the most satisfactory mode of illustration I know of. The whole outfit costs less than $5. The plates (8") cost about $15 per 1000 for paper & printing. I obtained the materials from the Franklin Bank Note Co., 107 Liberty St. New York.

It was a great pleasure to me to meet you & Mr. Osborn in Des Moines - and I hope I may have the pleasure of meeting you more frequently hereafter.

One subject that I would have liked to have spoken to you more about - is the matter of State Entomologist - The bill introduced by Mr. Foster is a copy of the Illinois law of 1867 under which Mr. Walsh was appointed, but naming the Agr. Coll. as depository of the collections, I feel much interest in having this or some other bill as good or better go into effect. I learn from Mr. Riley that he would accept the position if it is offered to him & the salary is reasonable - not less that $2000. I don't suppose there is any one in the U.S. better qualified for the position & I hope Iowa will have the wisdom to make this appropriation (instead of the $5000 for grasshopper seed!!) Mr. Foster's bill was reported back to the senate by the Agr. Comm. adversely - & has now been referred to the Agr. College Comm. where I hope it will undergo such changes as will make it acceptable to the legislature to the Agr. Coll. & to Mr. Riley. You know what is to be done to get it through better than I do but if you can do anything more please let me know. I should like very much to learn your views upon this matter & will act with you to the best of my ability.

If you wish any further information about the etching ask for it - or better make us a visit in Davenport.

With best regards Truly your friend

$674 [M&L?] P939b

880159

Office of J. Duncan [Putnam?] Corresponding Secretary. Davenport Academy of Natural Sciences. Davenport, Iowa. Feb. 9th 1880

Prof. C. E. Bessey, Dear Sir:

I have been very busy since my return home so that I have not been able to write to you in regard to the etching as I promised. The process is very simple & only requires a little care & practice. The materials necessary are 1st a steel or copper plate which can be had ready polished (Plates 8x5 in cost copper 75 g steel 2.00); 2nd a small handvice; 3rd a spirit lamp; 4th alcohol; Turpentine, Nitric Acid; 5th a ball of etching ground – wrapped in a piece of silk; 6th a dabber made of kid lather & silk & stuffed with wool; 7th [?] sheet geletine; 8th a sharp needle set in a wood handle; 9th an etching point; 10th some wall wax (White wax & [?] kitch – equal parts); 11th a magnifing glass; 12th a straight edge on [auler?] to serve for a hand rest; to which may be added a burnisher, scraper & graver & plenty of soft clean cotton rags, also asphatum varnish.

The process is as follows: first clean the plate with Turpentine finishing with alcohol; then fasten the plate in the vice and heat it over the spirit lamp until it causes the etching ground to ooze through the silk, distribute it evenly over the plate with the dabber, then smoke it over a candle until the grounded becomes sufficiently dark. This preparing the grounds requires a good deal of care. Having made the [?] on [?] – lay a piece of gelitine upon there & trace them with the small needle, then fill in the lines with vermillion [or?] black lead, then place it reversed [?] the [?] plate fastened as the sides with wax and varnish – this will leave the tracings transfered to the plate – reversed. It is now a comparatively [enviable?] matter to scratch away the ground with the etching needle – the [steel?] shows in [?] contrast to the dark ground. After the drawing is completed to satisfaction – [?] out the mistakes with asphaltum varnish. Build a wall of wax around the plate, a [?] on the acid (say 1 part Nitric to 3 parts Water) – the length