477

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 bets to prepare the specimens
by drying them under pressure between folds of absorbent
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 pasteboard. Packages
weighing less than four pounds can be sent by mail
at the rate of one cent per ounce. Write the name of the
sender on the outside. In the letter accompanying the
specimens state where collected, the date, and any other
particulars of the plant, whether reputed poisonous, pestiferous,
medicinal, or useful.

U. S. Department of Agriculture,
Division of Botany,
Washington, D. C., Nov 12th 1886.

Prof. Chas E Bessey
My dear Sir

Your letter of the 8th inst. together
with the grass is duly received. The grass is one of
the forms of Poa audina [Nult?]. I have not had time
yet to take up the Poas so as to make all the subdivisions
necessary. This is a form which I have collected in
Colorado, and it probably extends into Nebraska.
Probably as this is from the arid district it might
be useful to try it as a pasture grass in cultivation.

Truly Yours
Geo. Vasey
Botanist Dept. Agr.

P. S. I send you a copy of my Report
on the investigation of the Grasses of the arid districts.
I hope you will find something interesting in it.
My idea is to have a grass station under the Com. of Agr.
at Wallace – for which only 5 or 6000 dollars per annum will be
needed. Will it interfere at all with the Ag. College Bill in Congress?