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Correspondence of Asa Gray and G. W. Clinton |
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The
Correspondence of Asa Gray
(1810-1888) and George William
Clinton (1807‑1885) 1868-1869 Vol. 5 (65) [B 164] Cambridge, Feb. 4, 1868 My dear Clinton, Only pure want of time to read it prevented my prompt thanks for
your very kind and entertaining New Years letter, on the part of my wife (who
always enjoys your letters) and my self. Benth. & Hook., are hurrying up next part of Gen. Pl.
Hooker is at the Rubiaceae, & Bentham will soon tackle the Compositae ‑
having done the Australian ones. I found fault about their doings with Punica, but Hooker
insists he is right ‑ and that it has not the dotted outer leaves of
Myrtacea, which is, probably more comfortable without this genus As to "so‑called natural arrangement being
arbitrary" ‑ of course it is. Man [cranes?] & pushes &
fits & mutilates by severing here & there to get arbitrary limits
where Nature has left none. She goes by transitions, and Darwin
is her prophet! Hervey lives at New Bedford ‑ is Cashier of a bank there: but
could not find his Aster again last year ‑ which makes me regret I ever
meddled with it. I am hastily preparing for the immediate re‑impression of an
ed. of Manual ‑ with little corrections all through (more than half
typographical and 4 solid pages of addenda! Psilactis near Aster. How came you by it? Haploesthes, near Senecio Dimorpholepis, in Gnaphalineae. Bentham in
Fl. Australia ‑ the naughty man ‑ reduces my genus to Helipterum
DC. (Helipterum dimorpholepis, Benth.) Pumilio. Compositae ‑
Gnaphalineae, Benth. again reduces this to Rutidosis. An awful fellow this
Bentham. Genus paper ‑ no you don't. It cost me an awful wear &
tear to get the last & I was not satisfied with that. I can't get it made
without an order of say 20 reams. Find in paper ware‑house some large‑sheet heavy manilla ‑
& get it cut down. Next time I need (and that will be next summer) I
shall go to bleached Manilla and add color to match ‑ but
that now costs 27 cs. per lb. I am at White Herbm. paper now, of which I have an order out for
self & others for 100 reams. 18 lb. the ream at 27 cents the lb. I can
spare you what you need of that ‑ up to 8 or 10 reams. Do you want any?
Or if you want more could ‑ for a few days yet ‑ extend my order.
I am suffering from ague in face &c, Mrs. Gray sends best regards Ever A. Gray Recd. Feb. 6 In Vol. 1 of Genera
Plantarum, under Myrtaceae p. 691, the leaves are "semper glandulis
resinosis pellucidisve punctata", that is, always with leaves that are
dotted with resinous or pellucid glandules. Dimorphlepis, A. Gray in Hook.
Kew Journ. iv. 227 was indeed lumped with Helipterum in Vol. 2 (Compositae),
with one species in Australia (of Dimorpholepis). Haploesthes A. Gray, Pl.
Fendl. p. 109 was treated also in Volume 2 (p. 441). with one species from
Mexico, "Genus foliis et involucro in tribu parum anomalum, melius tamen
inter Senecionideae quam in ulla alia collocatum videtur." Rutidosis was
a genus in the Compositae under which Pumilo, Schlecht. was placed. Gray
published on it in Hook. Kew Journ. iv. p. 226, perhaps lumped in Benth. Fl.
Austral. iii. p. 593. In Turidosis there are seven species in Australia . Clinton began a
correspondence with Hervey regarding his specimens and received the following
set of letters throughout the remainder of the year (1868): Vol. 5 (108) [B 120]
[on printed stationary: Mechanics National Bank. Organized 1864. Capital $600,000,
T. Mandell, Prest. E. W. Hervey, Cashier, J. W. Hervey, Asst. Cashier, New
Bedford, Mass.] April 16, 1868 G. W. Clinton, Esq. Dear Sir: Yours of 14th inst
recieved. I disposed of all my spare specimens of A. Herveyi to Prof. A.
Gray, but hope to find some more the coming season. I thank you for the
offer to assist me in my herbarium and may wish to avail myself of the
privilege. My banking business
however takes so much of my time that I do not give as much attention to
Botany as formerly Very truly E. W. Hervey Recd April 18 Aster herveyi is
designated a "n. sp." in Gray's 5th edition p. 229 from
"Borders of oak woods, in rather moist soil, New Bedford, Mass., E. W.
Hervey. Sept. - an ambiguous member, and the smallest-flowered, of the
section." i.e. Calliastrum Torr. & Gr. Vol. 5 (168) [B 60] New Bedford, Sept. 22,
1868 G. W. Clinton, Esq. Dear Sir I have sent you by
mail a single specimen of Aster Herveyi, the only one I can spare this
season, which I hope will be acceptable to you. The plant is not
abundant & the demand larger than the supply. You may send in return
anything peculiar to your locality if you consider it worth the trouble Very Respectfully E. W. Hervey Recd Sept. 28, ansd
Oct. 2 Aster Herveyi, Gray.
"Borders of oak woods, in rather moist soil, E. Mass. and R. I.; Mt.
Desert. An ambiguous species, approaching the last" [A. macrophyllus L.]
from Gray's 6th, 1889. Vol. 5 (194) [B 31]
[on printed stationary as above] New Bedford, Mass.
Dec. 21, 1868 G. W. Clinton, Esq. Dear Sir: I take this
opportunity to acknowledge the receipt of a parcel of dried plants from you
some weeks since. I was exceedingly
interested in them as they were nearly all new to me. I have some hopes that
you have received my Aster which had not come to hand when you last wrote me. It was directed with
your address before me and the postage paid, so I feel confident if you have
not yet received it that the fault was with the P. O. officially. I shall not fail to
send you another specimen next season which would still leave me much
indebted to you for your generous exchange. Very truly E. W. Hervey P. S. I think I sent
you a catalogue of N. B. [=New Bedford] Plants with my last, if not will do
so. Recd Dec. 23, wrote
him Feb. 27 Vol. 5 (75) [B 155] March 5, 1868 Dear Clinton I now have a lot of Herbm. paper ‑ costs about $5.00 a ream.
Don't care to spare any, but could let you have a few reams if asked
for at once ‑ as it is still at warehouse in Boston. Yours ever A. Gray Recd. March 6 Vol. 5 (80) [B 150] Cambridge, 14 March [1868] Dear Clinton Excuse my negligence to acknowledge the $10. I shall not send the paper till Tuesday or Wednesday next ‑ and
shall have a matter of 25 cents to send you back in change, unless I have to
pay that out in some way So wait in patience Yours ever A. Gray Recd. March 17 Vol. 5 (136) [B 92] Cambridge June 2, 1868 Dear Clinton No you don't get me to name Conferva ‑ by comparing
specimens or any other way. I don't believe Hervey ever named a Conferva from Niagara Falls. I
never had it if he did. I know nothing of such ignoble plants. "A packet of things to be named & returned." Yes, if they
are N. American things & Phaenogams. I am going to end this distracting life one of these days ‑
then I shall have leisure to name anything you like. The "knobs" of "the little beast" are the
[budding] [horns] of the "Great Beast" we read of in Scripture.
Don't wonder you are bothered ‑ for you know everything about the Great
Beast has been a sore puzzle. My own interpretation thereof, is, that said "knobs at
top" are the body of the seed of a Cyperacea, Juncus or some other
Endogen. carried up on elongating, short in germination Ever Yours as of old A. G. Recd June 4 In Gray's glossary
"Endogenous Stems, p. 138. "Endogenous plants, an old name for
monocotyledons." p. 204 in association with the 5th edition. The book of
Revelations speaks of a horrible great "beast" that shall appear at
the end of the age, a creature associated with Armageddon. Chapter 13:1-10,
and 11-18 : verse11 "And I beheld another beast coming up out of the
earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon." Vol. 5 (142) [B 86] C[ambridge] June 18th [1868] Dear Clinton My wife promised to write to you, but gets no more time than I. We
are working to the utmost, in order to go abroad
at end of August to escape winter for Mrs. Gray & get a change for me
which I need. This accounts for my haste & imperfection in naming things. While abroad, if I see any autographs of Linnaeus, Tournefort,
&c. floating round, I'll get them for you. Remind Mrs. Gray [again, anon]
& she will pick you out some autographs when she sorts my lot of letters. Here is Alphonso Wood, & G. B. Emerson (Report on
Trees of Mass.) Yours ever A. G. Recd June 20 Emerson, G. B. 1875. A
Report on the Trees and Shrubs Growing Naturally in the Forests of
Massachusetts, 2nd ed. Little Brown and Co., Boston. Vol. 6 (119) [L 94] [On embossed stationary:] "Botanic Garden, Cambridge,
Mass."] Dec. 5, 1869 Hallo! Dear Clinton! Send us a specimen of Fragaria Gillmani,"Dead or alive I will have some." You see we have got home again. I very hearty, my wife ‑ now
that she is over the effects of the voyage ‑ tolerably well. She would
send her love if she knew of my writing. We are all alone here ‑ C. Wright away, and I am trying to get
things into some order here. So let us have news of yourself. Ever Yours A. Gray Recd. Dec. 9 & ansd. Fragaria Gillmani is a
species Clinton has named and published himself. Clinton seems to have
clammed up completely regarding his venture into the new species-naming endeavor
regarding this Strawberry. If Clinton won't write about it, perhaps Mr.
Gillman himself shall. The following series of letters are those from the
eponymous source of the epithet himself. Clinton, according to the
International Organization for Plant Information, published Fragaria
gillmanii Clinton in the Amerian Naturalist 3(4), 221. 1869. The source for
the citation is "Pankhurst, R.: Rosaceae database, 2005." The
recommendation of the IOPI is that the name deserves preliminary acceptance.
In Homer House's 1924 treatment of the New York flora there is a species,
Fragaria ananassa Duchesne, the Pine Strawberry. House says "Apparently
derived form the South American F. chiloensis Duchesne, or more probably
derived as a hybrid between that and the European F. vesca L." (p. 393).
Perhaps Gillman's plants belonged here. Vol.6 no. 9 [L 211 and 210, two pieces
of paper] 61 Adams Avenue West Detroit, March 11th 1869 My Dear Sir,
..
Do you know anything of a Strawberry known as the "Mexican Everbearing,"
brought from the Mountains of Mexico, where it grows abundantly. The plant
which was brought here several years ago by a gentleman has multifplied
exceedingly, - is peculiarly adapted to this climate, - and most remarkable
in many respects. It will probably create a furor in the strawberry world. I
enclose a bill which gives a slight idea of it. I have been unable to find
its botanical name or indeed any account of it, though searching in
"Hortus Kewensis," "Don's Botany," &c. &c. - Its
flowers are perfect, and the plant generally bears a resemblance to F. Vesca
- I thought you might be able to find something touching it, for which I
would be exceedingly obliged. - It is a perpetual bearer. So you can have
strawberries all season from June to December. I shall be glad to get any of the plants
you mention. I refer you to the marked catalogue which I sent you some time
ago. Any of the new additions will be welcome. The only strawberry approaching the
"Mexican" in any work I have examined in the F. Chilensis, which of
course it is not. Can you not find me the name? Excuse my great haste, and believe me to
remain Ever faithfully yours Henry Gillman Hon. G. W. Clinton Buffalo, N.Y. Recd March 12 [second sheet: a printed page from some
publication, only the top preserved: "Mexican everbearing Strawberry!
The greatest benefit and luxury of the age. This variety is of good size, very rich
flavor, and bears fruit from about the 1st of June until late in fall,
yielding abundantly all the time. The fruit stands up on the vine, and
consequently is in no danger of drooping down in the sand and becoming
gritty, as is very apt to be the case with all other varieties. These plants were brought from Mexico a
few years ago, and have proved to be very hardy, and well suited to htis
climate. They are grown and for sale by J. P. Whiting & Co., and cannot
be obtained anywhere in the United States, except from them or their agents.
Parties in want of the best strawberry, in every particular, to be found
inthe country, will do well to purchase the Mexican Ever Bearing. The following are affidavits from a few
parties who have raised and known these Berries in Michigan, and are signed
by men whose truth and veracity are unimpeachable. A great many more could be
given if it were deemed necessary, but as these are all gentlemen of the
strictest integrity, a few such names are sufficient to recommend the
berry." Affidavits torn away, except "State
of Michigan, County of Monroe, ss.
Fenelon Scranton, being duly sworn, deposes and saith that he ... and
well knows that Fenelon Scranton has been cultivating the Mexican Ever
Bearing Strawberry Plant with success.
Vol.6 no. 21 [L 197] 61 Adams Avenue West Detroit, April 3, 1869 Hon. Geo. W. Clinton My Dear Sir,
.. I have never seen Fragaria Collina so cannot judge how it compares
with F. Virginiana, var. Illinoensis. - It was quite a while before my dull
brain comprehended your sly cut at my inclination to Darwinism. I suppose,
however, I must only exercise a Christian spirit and forgive your unkind
sarcasm and ridicule. As to the Mexican Strawberry, I am sorry
you could shed no light on it. Can it be a hybrid? Mr. Whiting the proprietor
knows no more about this than any one else. The price of plants is $3 for
dozen. But he permits no plants to go East this season - not till next -
though he has had large orders from Eastern men. - However I
shall try to procure you come plants if you wish. Mr. Whiting has made me
Genl. Agent for State of Kentucky, & it seems likely to be a big thing
Excuse my hasty scribble, & believe me Very Truly Yours Henry Gillman Recd Ap. 6 Vol.6 no. 29 [L 189] 61 Adams Avenue West April 13th 1869 My Dear Sir, I have impressed Mr. Whiting so strongly
with the value of your opinion on the Mexican Strawberry, - that he wishes me
to be the bearer of a plant to you. And if I can possibly manage to get away
this week or early next, you may expect to see me in Buffalo, when I shall be
happy to present you with the plant. - Will you be there at those times?
Of all who have seen the plant no one can name or place it. I
sometimes think it is a distinct species. The leafy stem which you remarked, is
even more decided in the plant than shown by the cat. [catalogue] - My time is so much occupied that I can
make barely a flying visit. Please let me hear from you by return mail, as to
see you personally will be the object of my trip. With kindest regards Yours most truly Henry Gillman Hon. G. W. Clinton Buffalo, N.Y. Recd & ansd Ap. 15 Vol.6 no. 33 [L 185] 61 Adams Avenue West Detroit, April 16th 1869 My Dear Sir, Your kind note has just reached me. Many
thanks. But are you not a little premature in bestowing my name on
Strawberry? If nothing occurs to prevent I shall visit Buffalo next week. - I do not think I told you that I named a
point after you, in my Survey, last season, on the South Shore of Lake
Superior. "Clinton's Point" is about five miles west of Montreal
River, the boundary between States of Michigan & Wisconsin. The point
forms the western boundary of Ronto [sp?] Bay - Little Girl's Point being the
eastern one. It is appropriately named - as being a fine botanical locality.
Near by I found Goodyera Menziesii very abundant & Platanthera
orbiculata, Potamogeton obtusifolius, &c. - To whet your appetite I send you the
enclosed description of Strawberry which I have just dashed off. It is, no
doubt, open to amendment. - Do you know a Strawberry having other than
radical leaves? Very Truly Yours Henry Gillman, Hon. G. W. Clinton Mexican Strawberry Stem erect, longer than the leaves,
dichotomous, many-glowered, bearing aperfect trifoliate leaf variously placed
from below the middle to the summit of the peduncle, which is clothed iwth a
spreading or deflexed pubescence becoming more silky and ascending or
appressed on the pedicles and calyx; Leaves rather thin, or in the old ones
slightly inclining to coriaceous, coarsely serrate, the serrations
rounded-mucronate, rugose, silky-villous, the hairs closely appressed
particularly beneath, the two lateral leaflets unequal towards the base, born
on long channelled footstalks which are clothed with spreading or deflexed
hairs; Flower perfect, 8 lines in diameter; Calyx segments not longer than
the roundish spreading petals, the exterior segments or bractlets often cleft
to the base, much smaller than the interior segments which are
ovate-lanceolate; Fruit drooping, but
always raised far above the ground on the erect stem, bright scarlet, of an
irregular conical form, gratefully sweet, subacid, singularly fragrant,
achenia numerous, superficial (not sunk in pits), closely covering the
surface of the berry which is produced continuously from June to November.
Propagating very rapidly by stolons or runners, also by side stools or
offshoots from the central crown which are tuberous and easily separated.
Height of plant 12-15 inches. Henry Gillman. Recd Ap. 19 Vol.6 no. 38 [L 180] 61 Adams Avenue West Detroit, April 26, 1869 My Dear Sir, On looking over Sir James Smith's
"Flora", I find the following under Fragaria elatior, Ehr.,
comparing it with F. Vesca. "The essential difference consists in the
long, wide-spreading or considerably deflexed hairs of all the flower-stalks
as well as the footstalks. This is liable to no variation, or uncertainty,
when properly observed. Ehrhart first used it for specific discrimination,
& has distinguished all the real species of Strawberry which Linnaeus
confounded, by analogous marks." How slight a difference! I need hardly say Mr. Whiting is much
elated by the results of my trip to Buffalo. I have forwarded your remarks
with my description annexed, as you desired, to the American Naturalist. - The few but delightful hours I spent
with you & Mrs. Clinton in Buffalo I shall ever cherish in pleasant
remembrance. - Permit me again to repeat my thanks for all your kindness. Desiring to be kindly remembered by Mrs.
Clinton & your Son, I remain, My Dear Sir, Most Truly Yours Henry Gillman Hon. G. W. Clinton Buffalo Recd Ap. 27 ansd 30th Vol.6 no. 41 [L 177] 61 Adams Avenue West Detroit, May 3d, 1869 My Dear Sir: |