216
[4-IV-1881]
March 7. 1881 [?]
Am. [?] Sci. 3d [?] [?] XIX [?] 109. Jan'y. 1880. 1.75.
classification & description of [N?]. American species of characeae?; by B. D. H[a?]lstead.
The [?] paper directly relating to the American charae appeared in this journal in 1843, [?]; the "[?] [?] of the charae of North [?] Prof. [?] [Braun?], communicated by Dr. Engelmann." Two years later a notice of American charae appeared in a note to [Plantae?] [?], published in the Boston Journal of Natural History. Since that date he has only scattered references to charae in local lists & reports of different expeditions, [?] within the last few years when the attention of our botanists has been more frequently turned to the species of the small but interesting order. The task of determining native species will be much facilitated by two books which have recently appeared, one by Dr. J. F. Allen entitled Characeae Americanae, an illustrated work of which two parts have appeared, has already been noticed in this journal. The other, originaly presented as a graduating thesis at Harvard University in May 1878, by B. D. H[a?]lstead, is now published in part in the Proceedings of the Boston Society of Drafted Botany. There is a short introduction, giving a general account of the structure of the order, followed by detailed descriptions of the 18 species known to the writer from an examination of the Herbaria at Cambridge and a number of P[?] collections. Of the species 8 belong to [Netulla?], [10?] to [Tolypella?], and 9 to Chara. One new species C. [?] is described. Among the more interesting species, we may mention [N?]. [gelatinaea?] found by R[?] in the Santee Canal, & the beautified G. gymnopus, var. [elyans?], which was first found by [?] in [Essay?] County, Massachusetts, where it has recently been rediscovered by Mr. Robinson; & it is now known in other localities. As a whole the paper shows indications of careful study, & there is only one portion which we would criticise.
The group of the Gynopodae including C. gymnopus to C. r[?] should be compared with C. [polyphylla?] var. [?] [?] which as it seems to us, may have been confounded with what Mr. Halstead considers to be the typical C. gymnopus.
It should also be compared with C. [sejuneta?] [Brown?], a species certainly approaching C. r[?].
The literature of the old C. m[?] & C. [sejuneta?] is very obscure, & these two species figure unpleasantly in the footnotes of inaccessible articles, but we hope to have eventually from Mr. Halstead a further elucidation of the Gymnopodae.
W. G. F.
[Enclosure of 4 Apr 1881]
218
Scientific and Medical Books, Minerals, Shells, Fossils, Birds, Eggs, Eyes, Fins, etc., etc.
For Sale by A. E. Foote, M. D. [Prof. Min. and Chem., Fellow Am., Ass'n Adv. Science, Life Member Am. Museum Nat. History New York and Philadelphia Acad. Nat. Bot.]
1223 Belmont Avenue, Philada.
Specimen copy 33 page illus. Naturalists' Leisure Hour and Monthly Bullentin sent free.
Jan. 28. '81.
I can now offer you – John Torrey, M. D. Catalogue of N. Am. Genera of Plants, with the no. of Species in each Genus, [?]. Y. 1831, 22pp. [?], paper [?] condition, exceeding by rail. $1.50 No. 363. Please state no. in ordering.
Rspt. A. E. [?].
219
Biological Deparment. Profesors: C. E. Bessey, M. Sc., Ph. D. Botany. F. E. L. Beal, B. Sc., Zoology. M. Stalker, B. Sc., V. S., Anatomy. D. S. Fairchild, M. D. Pathology. Assistant: H. Osborn, B. Sc., Entomology
Iowa Agricultural College. Ames, February 17th 1881
To the President elect, The Hon. James A. Garfield. My dear sir.
Allow me to urge upon you that in making up the corps of officers in and near your cabinet you do somewhat to raise the Department of Agriculture from the unfortunate position it has hitherto occupied. As one of the workers in scientific agriculture, and a professor of one of the sciences closely related to agriculture, I would urge the appointment of a man for Commissioner of Agriculture who can command the respect of our scientific men [of the country], and whose experience
220
Biological Department. Professors: C. E. Bessey, M. Sc., Ph. D. Botany. F. E. L. Beal, B. Sc., Zoology. M. Stalker, B. Sc., V. S., Anatomy. D. S. Fairchild, M. D. Pathology. Assistant: H. Osborn, B. Sc., Entomology
Iowa Agricultural College. Ames, 188
has been such as to entitle him to the confidence of the practical agriculturists of the whole country. Such a man is Orange Judd of New York, the honored and successful publisher [sic.] of the American Agriculturist. I would urge that if possible he be made Commissioner of Agriculture.
Very respectfully, C. E. Bessey.