Charles Bessey, Letters, 1885-1887

not yet mastered it. I own a tolerably good Beck's microscope though I probably do not use it well as I have no instructor. There are many puzzling things to which I desire answers. Will you kindly tell me if you have ever noticed the [Brasenia piltrata?] [?]. It is covered, stem, leaf buds & under side of leaves with a clear

[mucilage?]. This must be secreted by the plant. Has the [mucilage?] a cellular structure? My microscope does not show any. Under what head would it come if not cellular? I mean as a plant product. Have you noticed the pecular structure of the epidermis where the [mucilage?] is secreted? I send you a drawing I made of part of a section of a petiole. I suppose these cells come

under the head of [trichomes?], but you do not mention them. They are crowded over all the surface of the stems & under surface of leaves. I suppose they secrete the [mucilage?]. Could you tell me how they do it? & what is the use of the [mucilage?] to the plant, and if there is any otehr plant with similar epidermal cells. By answering all these questions you will greatly oblige Yrs. truly

Miss Constance G. DuBois.

The red cells should be a pale [carmine?]

[illustration]

Part of section of stem of [Brasenia piltrata?] showing curious development of epidermal cells.

x 80 [?]

29 [?] Cambridge.

Jan. 22, 1887.

Dear Prof. Bessey,

With this I send a package of specimens which have accumulated in your pigeon-hole in my herbarium. I suppose that you received my letter about the Colorado fungi all right. I have been frightfully busy but shall have more time after the end of

the term which closes next week.

Yours truly, W. G. Farlow.