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3

I went botanizing. Both time I brough ohome
a wealth of fungi, lichens, diatoms the which
I can not work over for lack of books.

There are no botanists here. "Dr."
Howell, the bored young man who lectures
on Physiology, told me that he was an enthusiastic
botanist. My hopes rose, but fell
when I found that his idea of botany was
the pressing of a few flowering plants and committing
to memory their long, tedious names —
nothing more.

Dr. Brooks is interested in the
[?] fertilization of orchids and has a [still?]
[greenery?] of them which is turned unto me to
manage.

I had expected to find a number
of young [Agazzizs?], Darwins etc. among the
students here, but on the whole they are
no more able and earnest than one student
at home.

Remember me to Mrs Bessey, and
write me if you can find the time.

Very sincerely,
Conway McMillan.