Charles Bessey, Letters, 1891

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Palmyra Otoe Co Neb Dec r 16/91 Charles. E Bessey

Dear Sir I have just received bulletin No 18 from the experiment Stations for which you will please receive my thanks, think you have given as much Valueable information in condenced form with a good [ ] as Im shut in to day with a cold-thought would make a few remarks on some things therein, only you will pray in case my poor copy, may not be able to add to your knowlege but may vary something others may corroberate- 1st the blackberry you mention has certainly grown here in Otoe in the early May I have many times eaten the fruit, a low modest

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5th we also have an Elm which you have not listed, it may not however be a [?] variety, its called the yellow Elm instead of the red heart as in the common red Elm, it has a yellow heart, is early to split [ ] work up-- and has not the slippery under bark as is found in the red -- will try to send some specimens of this now.

6th the Mulberry here bear a large useful fruit, and should not be confounded with the sour misserable little humbug the so called Russian Variety -

7th I find the hazel nut improve in size and quality with a little encouragement, cattle are very disstructive to them but were a few isolated bushes have been left the fruit has been larger of better quality, of course they were enriched with the dropings

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Im sending also a few sprays of the Indian Currant " it somewhat reminds us at this christmas time of the English holly --," They may get through in good shape if so your Ladies will find something to decorate with them, this currant we have been calling red Privit, and another one like it only with white berries (white Privit) where I when I have seen the later do not just remember now -- have there never been clarrified with the Privit family?

I shall be glad to do anything in my power for your faculty as a little compensation for valuable books secured.

Yours truly R. R. Ward Palmyra Neb-