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without extra charge all that remains of the Southern set.
Truly Yours Geo. Vasey
P. S. I may say that nearly all my [Iowa?] specimens are valuable to our Herbarium because they represent so many extremely rare species, and are so much better specimens than we have had before. A portion are also new to the [Hort.?]
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In sending specimens of plants for investigation, it is desirable to have the leaves, flowers, and fruit; and in the case of bulbous plants, the bulbs also. When they are sent from a distance it is best to prepare the specimens by drying them under pressure between folds of [?] paper, otherwise the parts shrink and break so as to be hardly recognizable. When the dried plants are sent they should be protected from breakage in the mail by being [inclosed?] between pieces of stiff [posterboard?]. Packages weighing less than four pounds can be sent by mail at the rate of one cent per usage. Write the name of the sender on the [?]. In the letter accompanying the specimens state where collected, the date, and any other particulars of the plant, whether reputed poisonous, [pestiforous?], medicinal, or useful.
Department of Agriculture, Division of Botany, Washington, D. C., Nov. 4th, 1881.
Prof. C. E. Bessey My dear Sir
I neglected to mention some things in my last letter, for instance; the Arizona & N. Mex. Collection of my son as far as sent to you is not classified. I could not make a full classification until I [receive?] the balance of the plants, so I thought I might as well send them miscellaneously, and at last I will furnish you a regular systematic Catalogue, and also a full set of printed blank labels. I ought perhaps to have apologized for sending the other (Southern) plants without writing out the names on the tickets. Pressure of work and want of time is my excuse.
You wished for some general notes [respecting?] my son's Collection, which I will gladly make as soon as I receive the balance, which I expect will be in a few weeks. I hope you received the box, and found things in good order, and satisfactory. You need not [?] make payment until all are delivered.
Truly Yours Geo. Vasey
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State of Iowa. Department of Public Instruction. Des Moines, Jan. 4, 1881.
Western [?] Co., Des Moines, Iowa.
Prof. C. E. Bessey, Ames, Iowa. Dear Sir:
You were appointed as a member of an advisory committee to the Supt. Pub. Inst. on all matters belonging to the educational interests of the State. The other members are Pres. J. S. Pickard, general education, Pres. W. T. King, representative of the colleges, Prof. M. W. Partlett, Cedar Falls, representing Normal Schools, Supt. R. H. Frost, Atlantic, one of the county superintendents and Supt. H. H. [?], Oskaloosa, one of the city superintendents. You are chosen as the representative of industrial training. I hope to have such suggestions from you, as you desire to give. It may be wise some time next summer to have a meeting at a central point, to deliberate upon some questions to be presented to the legislature. Your desire and opinion about this meeting is hereby solicited. I have at present one question of great importance for our educational interests,
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State of Iowa. Department of Public Instruction. Des Moines, 188
Western [?] Co., Des Moines, Iowa.
upon which I would like your advice. Our normal institutes have been of very material benefit to our rural schools; but in many counties they are conducted by men of limited knowledge and experience, and how best to remedy this difficulty, I do not know. By looking at section 1769 of the school law of 1880, a copy of which I send you, you will see, that county superintendent are to choose their conductors and instructures and such choice is to be ratified by the superintendent of public instruction. Following the example of my predecessor, I have invariably confirmed these these selections, unless I knew of moral delinquencies in the parties thus proposed. THis has in many instances been detrimental to the teachers who must pay for this instruction and pay their board besides. Can you suggest a remedy?
We have in this State and in adjoining states about 40 persons who are either fully or at least reasonably well qualified to do this work. Any suggestions on this point will be thankfully received.
Yours respectfully,
[C?]. W. von [Coeller?] Supt. Pub. Inst.