249

ca. 1886

[Library Note:
Bessey wrote to Senator Charles
F. Manderson 13 Jan. 1887 concerning
this matter]

Prof. C.E. Bessey

Dear Sir,

I well know and greatly appreciate
the interest you have taken in the botanical
work of the Department of Agriculture, particularly
since the appointment of an Assistant
Botanist whose duty it is to prosecute the study
of the lower orders of vegetation, especially those
fungi which are injurious to the crops of the
former, and to plants generally.

In order to continue this work with any degree
of success it is absolutely necessary that the
appropiations for this division be considerably
increased and for that part we have to depend
on Congress, and particularly and chiefly on
the Committee of Agriculture of the House.—
The Commissioner has recommended the appropriation
for our division of five thousand
dollars, which is only too small an amount, but
with which something can be done and a beginning
made in obtaining the help of local