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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) 1877 Volume 11 (147) [J 113] [printed stationary Herbarium of Harvard University, Botanic Garden,
Cambridge, Mass.] Jany 2 1877 My Dear Clinton Not much communication between us of late. Let us take a fresh
start, and allow my wife and myself to wish for you and all dear to you, a
Happy New Year. Ever Your A. Gray Jan. 2, 1877 Volume 11 (184) [J
69] Cambridge, Apr.
17th [1877] My Dear Sir, Your big bundle
of plants came safely. If you will be patient and give me a little time I
will send them all back to you with their names. On the whole I am rather gratified at seeing how
few among the Polypets you failed to name. It speaks favorably for the Bot.
Califr., as well as for your sagacity. I am at work upon
the 2d vol., have just been over again all the Eriogonum & other
Polygonums, & am now anything but happy among the Amaranths. Still there is
a real satisfaction after working at some of these old time conundrums, to
see a clear way through them and order coming out of confusion. And there is
a deal of confusion even respecting some of our very common plants. We hope
to have the volume out early next year. It will probably cover the whole
ground and include the mosses, algae and lichens. I expect Mr. James to do
the mosses ‑ not that Austin would not do it satisfactorily, but James
is here close on hand & is sufficient for it. Dr. Gray is hard
at work upon the Convolvulaceae. I congratulate you upon the prospect of your
laying aside the harness, and wish you many a quiet season of herborizing in the field and on the ... ‑
if I may so express it. With kindest
regards Yours very truly Sereno Watson [Note Clinton
does not write 'received' any more. Polypets are plants with the flowers or
corollas with petals that are not united: choripetalous. ] Volume 11 (189)
[J62] [printed
stationary: Herbarium of Harvard University, Botanic Garden, Cambridge,
Mass.] May 7, 1877 My Dear Sir, I have bundled up
your plants again and return them to you by Express. I hope you will find the
naming all satisfactory. Dr. Gray passed upon the gamopets. I do not admire
your style of "packets" much and enclose a sample of those we use,
with one in process of making. They can be of any size. Yours very truly Sereno Watson Hon. G. W.
Clinton Buffalo, N.Y. [No note of
receipt; gamopets are plants with gamopetalous flowers or corollas, the corolla
composed of united petals, as in Convolvulus, Morning Glory flowers:
Metachlamydae.] Volume 11 (199)
[J 47] [U.S. Postal
Card, ...30. 77, cancelled] G. W. Clinton,
Buffalo, N.Y. Cambridge, June
30 [1777] My Dear Sir, Yes, your grass is
Eatonia Pennsylvanica. Am just back from a weekend vacation, which must do
for this season. Dr. Gray & wife will start for Colorado & westward
immediately on arrival of Sir. J. D. Hooker ‑ about 12th
July. Yours very truly Sereno Watson Volume 11 (210)
[J 40] [US Postal Card,
Jul 24, cancelled] Hon. George W.
Clinton, Buffalo, New York Cambridge, July 23 My Dear Judge, Try calling him
Triticum caninum & see how he likes it. It seems to be one of the forms
spoken of by Gray in [...], half way between T. caninum & T. aiglopoides,
but the awns not divergent. The books discribe the last as with sheaths
pilose or glabrous. Ours are all glabrous. Would like a good
herbarium specimen. Yours very truly Sereno Watson Volume 11 (212)
[J 37] [US Postal Card,
Aug. 6, cancelled] Hon. Geo. W.
Clinton, Buffalo, New York Cambridge, Aug. 6 [1877] My Dear Sir, Thanks for your
package of Triticum. Considering the adjectives which you apply to it, it
seems a left‑handed sort of compliment to credit it to me. Not? Except for the
remarkable villousness it goes very well into caninum, as we have it from the
old world, and I think we may as well put it there. Yours very truly Sereno Watson Volume 11 (218)
[J 29] [US Postal Card,
Sept. 20 [1877] Herbarium,
Cambridge Sept. 19 My Dear Sir, Your little
villain bears the honest name of Oldenlandia [promenata]. The rest are Chenopodium
leptophyllum, Nutt. see my Revision Aristidia
tuberculosa, Nutt. Panicum amarum,
Ell. The
"Spartina" I do not find in the package. Dr. Gray is expected home
on the 22c Yours very truly Sereno Watson [Oldenlandia is a
genus in the Rubiaceae, or Madder Family. It is a tropical genus of which
four occur in the southeastern United Stated (Small, 1933).] Volume 11 (219) [J 30] [US Postal Card cancelled at Niagara Falls, N.Y., 20 Sept. 1877] Hon. G. W. Clinton, Buffalo, N.Y. Cataract House, Niagara Falls Sept. 20, 18777 My Dear Judge & Friend On way homeward (sorry not thro' B. so as to see you) I send you a
bundle of dryers & plant paper of no more use to us. Give it to some
young botanist or other, who will make specimens. With best regards &
love from Mrs. G. always yours Asa Gray |
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