University of Nebraska-Lincoln Discovery Documents

University of Michigan Ann Arbor May 5th 1880

Dear Sir:

Some Time ago you were so kind as to send me your pamphlet on Erysiphei and now that I am in need of another favor I take the liberty to [illegible] again and ask aid in my botanical work. Just now I am doing some work that requires reference to the flora of your State and I wish very much to get your list of Iowa plants. Can you spare me a copy and trust me to remember the favor?

Yours with esteem

[illegible] M. Spalding Asst. Prof. Botany

Professor C. E. Bessey

Ann Arbor. Aug 14 1880

My dear Sir:

I have just received from your publishers in New York a copy of your new work on Botany and have partially examined it. Although my examination of the book has been necessarily very imperfect- I am con vinced that it comes [illegible] the ideal text book of botany for our Ameri can College than any other one that has not yet been offered. Sachs Botany is two much of an encyclopedia [illegible] too [illegible] and very faulty in execu tion so that I have been obliged to aban don both of them as text books useful and indispensible as the former may be for reference. So far as I can judge your work

will meet the [illegible] of our classes and I expect to introduce it in the Literary Dept of the University the second sem ester of the coming college year. [illegible] the first semester my work is with the Pharmacy students and a few ad vanced students of the literary Dept. It would not be right for me to attempt a criticism of the work until I have actually tried it still I may give a few impressions regarding it The plan of the work is admirable presenting as it does in concise and clear language the leading lacks of structure physiology and classification and bringing out more fully than usual the history of reproduction and development. I have felt obliged to give my classes from year to year a course of lecture nearly identical in plan with this and shall now feel relieved

by having a suitable work to which I can refer them to be used in connec tions with the lectures and which is within their means of purchasing. 2 The executive through cases (e.g. fig 165 p 2451 appears to me unusually excellent the whole work in attraction in gen eral make-up the type clean and the figures as far as I have opportunity of judging accurate. On the whole Professor Bessey ddeserves the Thanks of teachers of botany in this country for introducing what appears to be so good a work and it will doubtlessly meet with a [illegible] receptive at their hands You may possibly like to look over a syllabus of one of my courses of lecture it is not however the one to which I referred above and of which I have no printed [illegible] at present

POSTAL CARD. Write the address on this side- the message on the other

Prof. C. E. Bessey Ames, Iowa

[illegible] Hill MR DEC 20 1880

Prof. Bessey: [illegible] yours of the 15 met is at hand and I am glad to be corrected I have the Postland Societys boat but it was away and the Portland people themselves say it is imperfect so we do not look to it confidently for rare plants so I looked p Gray's and Woods Manuals Sargents [illegible] of Forest [illegible] and the state Nat. Hist. Reports and not finding [illegible] credited to [illegible] I in ferred that it could not have been [illegible] re ported or some of these would have [illegible] it. As I have already sent to Prof. Sargent statement as to the Kent's Hill specimen I am not desirous of any [illegible] notice or that but it [illegible] be well to call attention to the waterville [illegible] and the [illegible] in the Manuals and catalogue. Very Truly Yours [illegible] Stone.

[illegible] 29 1880

Professor C. E. Bessey

Dear Sir:

[illegible] my duty on Sec retary to occassionally remind members [illegible] [illegible] August meeting. I [illegible] a paper ready at that time for when [illegible] action [illegible] is members must defend [illegible] success in [illegible] as occupy ing a scientific [illegible]. Then is in [illegible] as the years go by and now [illegible] [illegible]

Very Truly Yours [illegible]

J. E. LAWHEAD, Prosecuting Attorny. J. M. Swartz, Notary Public Office of

LAWHEAD & SWARTZ, ATTORNEYS AT LAW.

Newark, O. Oct 6th 1880 [Charles] E. Bessey Prof. +c State Ag[?] Coll. Ames Iowa.

My Dear old friend: Your favor of the 1st [just] is at hand. I did indeed receive a copy of your book, it came while I was away from home. Having spent some weeks in the latter part of the summer in [P?] and N.J. when I returned I found your book on my table.

I take this opportunity to do what I ought to have done sooner, to acknowledge its receipt and thank you for your kind remembrance of me. I am ashamed that I did not write you before, but I thought to examine it thoroughly and if possible, send you a recommendation of your work, for so much as it might be worth to you, I have for some years been intimately connected with all the educational interests of this [County] and have much interest in the (matter)

LAWHEAD & SWARTZ ATTORNEYS AT LAW

Newark, O. 188 matter. I have carefully read and examined your work on this very interesting study of Bot any and think it most admirably adapted as an elementary text book for the use of schools The Classification and arrangement of the sub ject is in my opinion superior to any other text book on the subject within its scope which it has been my privilege to examine and I can heartily recommend its introduction into the Colleges and seminaries of my [illegible] if you desire to use the words between the [illegible] or any part of them in any way you may do so over my name as Chairman of the Examining Committee of Denison University at [illegible] and Prest. of the Board of School Examiners of the City of Newark Ohio. I have seen prof. L. E. Hicks the Professor of Nat Sciences at [illegible] the College there being our Baptist State institution and showed the book to him. He is well [illegible] with it and says it is just the book they (want)

Orange Judd Company, Publishers, No. 751 Broadway. Orange Judd, Pres't. David W. Judd, Vice-Pres't. Wm. R. Beckwith, Treas. Samuel Burnham, Sec'y.

American Agriculturist. A very large Illustrated Magazine, established in 1842, with separate English and German Editions, devoted to Practical Farming and Gardening, and the interests of the Entire Household. Terms—The circulation of the American Agriculturist is so large that it can be furnished at the low price of 81.50 a year; four copies for $5; six copies, $7; ten or more copies, only $1 each; postage prepaid by the Publishers in each case; single numbers, 15 cents each. Advertisements, (of good character only,) $1, $1.25, $1.50, $2 per line.

Rural Books and Books for Sportsmen. Standard Works on Agriculture, Horticulture, Architecture, Field Sports, Fish and Fishing, Horses, Cattle, Sheep, Swine, Poultry, Entomology, Bee-keeping, Hunting and Trapping, etc. (Catalogues furnished free on application.)

Crandall's Blocks. The Orange Judd Company are the Sole Agents for the sale of Crandall's well-known Blocks for Children. His Building, Sectional A. B. C. and other blocks, with the Permorming Animals, Lively Horseman, Treasure Box, Bat and Trap, Rabbit Transit, Velocipede, Hand Car, etc., are among the most pleasing toys ever invented

New York, Feb. 14th—1880.

My Dear Prof. Bessey,

Were I of the other sex this, considering the date, might be a Valentine's – but far from anything of the sort – it is to be a very prosy matter-of-fact letter. Of course I write without knowing your views, preferences or prejudices in the matter, but with the general impression that you are in favor of whatever will be an improvement, that the Department of Agriculture needs improvement, you do not need to be told. Our Mr. Judd was in Washington recently, and [Baird?] and the [East?] got after him, and quite convinced him that he should be a candidate for [?] of Agriculture. This he is inclined to do, provided he has a strong backing from the scientific agriculturists in the