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Iowa Agricultural College.
S. A. Knapp, President. C. E. Bessey, Vice President. E. W. Stanton, Secretary.
General Science Faculty, C. E. Bessey, Dean. School of Agriculture, S. A. Knapp, Dean. School of Engineering, A. Thomson Dean School of Veterinary Science, M. Stalker, Dean
Department of Botany.
Ames, Iowa, April 17th 1885.
Dear Professor Bessey.
Pardon my delay in reporting that I saw the President about the Bulletins for Prof Arthur. I spok to Prof H[?] the next day after your note and he said the copies had already been sent. He however would look the matter up and send the copies if he was mistaken. In my work in the herbarium I have as yet found only a note book marked "Lectures in Com. Anatomy." These I will send you with pleasure if you desire.
It is hardly necessary for me to say that I found the missing [fascicles?] of algae. I have not been able to look through the packages of plants in the case when I found the above mentioned [fascicles?].
I find a pile of genus covers under – or on the lowest shelf of the book rack near [?]
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and they are marked with names of genera. Are they prepared and the contents are not ready or may they be turned and put to use? I shall never get through with asking questions you may think.
Mr. Wright has sent me my bill for [?] and did not include the "fire board." I will try and see him the next time I go to town.
The Junior class is now on Lichens [?] on the flower[s?]. The [service vets.?] are having a general course on Vet. Med. Botany. The last four weeks will be directed to poisonous plants and Bacteria.
I hope you find abundance of time for study. We have not unearthed any new or wonderful thing in [the?] laboratory that is worthy of not in the Am Ag.
Yours very truly Byron D. Halsted
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Iowa Agricultural College, Ames.
Department of Botany. May 4th 1885.
Dear Professor Bessey,
Your kind favor is rec'd. I have written to Prof. [Harvey?] to send the Ark. plants and I will endeavor to carry out the accepted conditions. [Curtis?] N. A. Plants have not come, [for?] [that?/short?] [?] has come for the [Bd.?] [??].
I am getting the herbarium "into my head" so to speak as fast as other & regular duties will permit. In trying to find the collection of Iowa [ceredineae?] gave in the Bulletin I failed. The [Ustilagneae?] did not turn up either. There are many places yet to be looked through. I looked in the main herbarium cases. I have given each Junior a Bulletin and some of them ([sic.?] Juniors) are anxious to look through the colection [roots?] and [seeds?]. A word will help me here. I found three of 1/2 inch objections to the students [?] you[r?]
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I think the objection is to the binocular on all here. I keep the case locked & carry the key. Your mention a 1/25 did you not intend to write 1/20?
I am very glad you have $5,000 to use in your department that will fit you out in grand style. I am going to try and give the [?] [vets.?] some talks on the Bacteria. The Junior were much interested in them as we passed over that part of the course. The 20 pks. are now beginning to work out the flowers. Our lesson for tomorrow is on Fruits. It is my introduction to go to Ann Arbor to [?] A. S. S. S. You of course will take an active part.
Nothing f[u?]rther of your personal [?] has turned up in my "hunts", about our "Grounds." Everything i[s] moving along in good shape have soon or will have the end of the term [with?] the [Alumni?] and J[?] &c. Hope then to find something to work up for Ann Arbor.
Yours very truly Byron D Halsted
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Iowa Agricultural College, Ames.
Department of Botany. August 3d 1885.
Dear Dr Bessey
Some of the Engineer students are inquiring about the lectures upon Fungi. I had no thought until today that there was any such sourse of lectures. My object in writing you is obvious. What sort of a course did you give? Was it a course upon Fungi in general or upon Fungi [injurious?] to timbers? With a good sized Sept. class three recitations per week and two laboratory days [over?] a [?] [?] Juniors in Landscape Gardening – all lecture & to write. Several Junior[s?] specials in botany three graduate students The catalogue to get out – with all this I do not care for much [near?] the first year. Much of the [?] committee work comes to me I could give a general