285

Aiken S. C. Dec. 19 '81

My dear sir

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

yours very truly
H. W. Ra[v?]end