Charles Bessey, Letters, 1881

whole lot is not much, but it is important to a man like me who has no salary, and who is devoting his life to a Flora of N. America. which, when [prepared?/propopsed?] as a [true?] labor of love, does not pay the [sic.] expense of type & paper. I pay for all myself, and as to the part of Flora issued in May 1878, I have got back only 2/3 of the direct [outlay?] to [the?] printer.

I add that I have had in mind the future [?] of the Flora on thin paper & very [?] [maps?] for portability.

Always very truly Yrs Asa Gray

[3]

23 Nov. 1881]

"An [early?] [notice?] of your Manual is contemplated, the Geographical range [?] England as to include the country from the Atlantic to the Plains (thus includ

[1]

Herbarium of Harvard University, Botanic Garden, Cambridge, Mass. Dec. 25. 1881.

My dear Bessey

Thanks for yours of the 22d to whi ch I reply promptly, and open up my mind about the matter. For what you write comes [?] to ideas which I had pondered & about which I left a sketch in Goodale's hands when I [sic.] went abroad.

I was waiting for a chance to get at – what is much [needed?] – a new ed. of my Manual, or a new book to take in part its place, and I feel that it cannot wait long. My idea was, [sic.] if Chapman did not get out a new ed. – or even if he does, if I could do it without being in his way – to expand the area [nor?] the S. Atlantic States & [nor?] the States

[A. Gray to C. E. Bessey

[2]

bordering the Mississippi & Missouri.

I see if you extend out on to the plains, it will not add very much. I must, as soon as I had printed to [?] ([Pat.?] II of vol. I.) for [?]. Flora to put this through.

If I rightly understand, you ask whether the Manual in [free?] type, might not be extended to Atlantic [M. S.?] Botany [one?] which was my idea. Only I thought of a Plain & Mountain Botany, as well as a Pacific Botany, to come one of these days – after me. Yet I see the thing had better be 1, Atlantic & 2, Pacific, giving the latter a wide range in longitude. Well, the Plains Manual

25 Dec 1881]

[3]

which Coulter has [?] the inking of, would not [pay of?] [?]. One could barely get a publisher for it – the Comp. of Atlantic Botany would in a certain degree. [If?] Coulter will [fall?/fill?] in to my suggestion he will take it up, with Mr. watson's help, & all the help we can get.

We must march to work all together in it.

Cordially Yrs Asa Gray

P. S. I [?] Chapman wants only to get [?] a supplement – keeping the old stereotype plates, for the body of his new [?]. So I shall not be trending on his ground.

[1]

Herbarium of Harvard University, Botanic Garden, Cambridge, Mass. Dec. 25. 1881.

My dear Bessey

Thanks for yours of the 22d to whi ch I reply promptly, and open up my mind about the matter. For what you write comes [?] to ideas which I had pondered & about which I left a sketch in Goodale's hands when I [sic.] went abroad.

I was waiting for a chance to get at – what is much [needed?] – a new ed. of my Manual, or a new book to take in part its place, and I feel that it cannot wait long. My idea was, [sic.] if Chapman did not get out a new ed. – or even if he does, if I could do it without being in his way – to expand the area [nor?] the S. Atlantic States & [nor?] the States

(HI – [Gen?] Autog. Collection)

[4]

"An [early?] [notice?] of your Manual is contemplated, the Geographical range [?] England as to include the country from the Atlantic to the Plains (thus including the prairies proper), and a [compromise?] volume is to be made to include the remainder of the country,"

The new edition in attempt will be made by the [?] of thin paper, narrow margins etc. to supply the [?] of a pocket manual, a part of the edition to be so prepared,"