470

Botanical Laboratory,
Cornell University.

Ithaca, New York,
Oct 2[9?], 1880.

Dear Prof. Bessey,

I had [?] [?] to recommend
your Botany to a student at the Univ.
of Wisconson, who wrote me for information, and
stated that he wished to make the study of
plants a [?]; and somtime since I
recommended your book to my own advanced
classes. These facts express as plainly as any
words could do my impressions and opinions
of your work. I have read nearly all of it very
carefully, and some parts of it several times;
and I sum up my judgment in the one word,
excellent. Not of course that it is perfect,
but I find very few things to criticize, and
those of no great [?]. Among the
things which I specially like is the general
tone of the work, which bears the unimitable
impress of candor and honesty; the references
to [?]; and the suggestions for laboratory
work. Of the latter I could work