Charles Bessey, Letters, 1880

Crawfordsville, Ind., Jan. 3-'81

Dear Prof. Bessey:

Now is the time to push my claims upon you. I am ready to reissue something from your [pen?] for the Gazette; anything that you may choose to write, but preferably something physiological. I know the Naturalist drains upon you, but you said a reminder would call something from you for the Gazette. The Jan. No. [?] out with the next mail. I think you will see it starts well, but where is our physiology?

Sincerely yrs, John M. Coulter.

from Coulter

Botanical Gazette.

Museum of Wabash College.

Crawfordsville, Ind., Sept. 17 1881

Prof. C. E. Bessey:

My Dear Sir,

Several of us have had in mind for some time the publication of a manual of Botany to take the place of Gray's Manual in the western states. Dr. Gray is too much occupied with the whole of N. Am. to turn aside + publish a more local work, but still there are teachers of botany throughout the states west of the Mississippi to whom such a manual would be most acceptable. The idea is to have such a work follow exactly the plan of Gray's Manual, in fact be a companion to it. Then as to range there have been two plans. One is to take the Mississippi as the Eastern limit + [on?] west to about the 104th Meridian + south to the limit of Gray's Manual extended west. That would exactly take in the beginning at the north, Dakota, Minn., Neb., Iowa, Kansas & Missouri. The other plan is to follow the Mississippi to the

Original in Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation; Carnegie-Mellon Uni., Pitts, PA Twentieth Century Botanists Collection

Coulter to Bessey 17 - IX - 1881

Botanical Gazette.

2

Museum of Wabash College.

Crawfordsville, Ind., _______ 188_

Gulf and continue south the same western line. That would add to the above list Ind., [Tenn.?], Ark., Texas + Louisiana. I am rather inclined to the former though there are many reasons why it would be useful to include Ind., [Tenn.?]. + Ark.

The work would be a composite affair, different orders being assigned to the most suitable [sic.] + available botanists, some one of us of course to have general oversight + direction examining the make up, press work, etc. It would necessarily be largely a compilation, but a very useful one + if taken up by some enterprising school firm would rapidly win its way. Of course all [each?] work would pass under the eyes of Dr. Gray + Watson that the systematic work of the whole country could go on uniformly. I write to you now to ask a full and candid opinion of

Original in Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation; Carnegie-Mellon Uni., Pitts., PA Twentieth Century Botanists Collection

to Bessey 17 - IX - 1881

Botanical Gazette.

3

Museum of Wabash College.

Crawfordsville, Ind., _______ 188_

the whole scheme. You are in the field with a capital text book + we all think it is time for a capital western -----------

I have scores of correspondents writing [sic.] for the best on annuals to use in all the states I have enumerated. What can I answer then? Botanical work there is most discouraging and any help that is needed should be supplied. Please give your opinion of the need + feasibility of such a work + all you think about it. This is of course inter [?].

Sincerely yrs, John M. Coulter.

P.S. Maybe you know of some one at work upon [just?] such a book.

Iowa City Ia March 24 1880

Dr C. E. Bessey

Dear Sir:

I send you by to-days mail a small package of Algae, in fulfillment somewhat tardily of my promise made when you were with us. I am just ready for the seasons work and while I have less time I have more [?] and inclination for the study of Algae than heretofore. I hope you will send me some [?] the reason. I have now besides systematic works on the subject a collection which will assist me in the identification of species very greatly. I shall be pleased to exchange with you, and anything you send me, you may send in a mass, without any effort at mounting if inconvnient – only you can understand that notes would be acceptable – and I will except from the above rule [?] and [Phormidis?] which can not be properly studied unless mounted living; there being very few reliable specific [acheivments?]. The best way to treat them is to place a small