166

Aiken S. C. Dec 19 '81

My dear sir

Yours of the 16th [was?] just received.
Dr Cooke, [?] to his [?] in Iowa, expected to have
two more Cents – VII & VIII, (for which he had nearly enough
material then) ready for [distribution?] in his [?]. His illness
has [?] too much – & now I cannot say definitely when
they will be ready. You ask me for contributions to the botanical
department of the Naturalist. I have been trying for 18 [minutes?/months?] [?]
to re-[?] too long [but?] [Gardenia?] [?] (found about 100
years ago by [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] in Georgia; &
[??] text to Botany I. If you think my experience in the
search would be interesting enough I can write [?] out.
It may [serve?] as a guide to [?] explorers.

Yours very truly
H. W. [?]