Charles Bessey, Letters, 1881

Newfield New Jersey Feb. 23d 1881

Recd[?] of Prof. C. E. Bessey Seven Dollars ($7.) in full for North American Fungi Cents. I–V. inclusive.

J. B. Ellis.

[enclosure with 2pp. Letter of 23 Feb. 1881]

from Farlow

[1]

1881

Cambridge, Apr. 4.

Dear Prof. Bessey,

Your letter was received by me while I was in Bermuda and I have not been able to find any leisure to reply until today.

With regard to Puccinia microsperma, it first appeared in Curtis's North Carolina Plants in 1867. The name is wrongly given in Fung. Am. as P. microspora. Wheter I

[2]

am responsible for the mistake originally, I do not know, but as all my own specimens are labelled P. microsperma, I do not think it likely that I on this occasion only spelled it microspora but it is certainly my fault for not calling the alteration of Ellis to the mistake. Whether the [sic.] species is P. Lobeliae of Gerard I cannot say but think it likely I have written to Gerard on that point. If you find other errors in Cent. III, I shall be very glad to hear them as I am preparing a [sic.] paper for the academy as a commentary on the [?] published in Cent. III with a revision of the N. A. species of some of the genera.

[Reverse of 1]

[to Bessey 4-IV-1881]

[3]

The specimen on [Fernoma?] is the P. [Fernouiae?] of [?] and it would be a nice thing for the next century. I still think, however, from an examination of the specimens last sent that the species is not distinct from P. Helianthi.

Schroeter has expressed no opinion to me on P. [Granium?] var. [brenicarpa?].

With regard to the Alg. Am. [Bor.?] I am not certain whether I can furnish a whole set. There is a set minus part I; II & III are in good condition. Part IV will appear in a fortnight

[4

[4]

I hardly know whether you would care for an incomplete set.

I presume that you have received my Gymnosporangium paper. It is no 1. of a set on [Meduicae?] and two other genera will soon follow.

Yours, in haste, W. G. Farlow.