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Correspondence of Charles Peck and G. W. Clinton February 25, 2011 |
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The
Correspondence of Charles
Peck (1833-1917) and George
William Clinton (1807 1885) 1869 Vol. 5 (203) [B22] My Dear Sir, The Report shall be
sent to Prof. Wood. It was sent as I suppose to Freehold, N.J., his name being on the list with that address. Hearing
nothing from it, nor from a letter sent him there, I
suspected he might have changed his location and upon inquiry was told his
address was West Farms, Westchester Co. to which place I had written but a
few days before receiving your letter. I have now written to him at Dr. Chapman's name was
also on the list. This list was handed in to the Secretary's office and my
name was stamped upon the Reports which were sent from that Office, the
postage being more than I wished to bear. If he did not receive one I will
send again. I have received acknowledgements of the receipt of the Report
from many, but not from all to whom it was sent. I hope you will be here
to attend the coming meeting of the Regents. I Do not remember if Saxifraga aizoides was in my
list of desiderata sent to you, but at all events it should have been. Will
try to have a few things ready for you by the 10th inst. Very truly yours Charles H. Peck Judge G. W. Clinton Received Jan. 3 Vol. 5 (206) [B19] My Dear Sir, The moss from You did not say return
the specimen but I will enclose the best piece there was in the lot. The Report shall be
sent to Mr. Pratt. I have made no
collection of shells to speak of and find I have quite as much on my hands
now as I can attent to, so that I must for the
present at least forego any farther dabbling in that line. Shall be very glad to
see you when you do come to Very truly yours Charles H. Peck Judge G. W. Clinton Received Jan. 8 Vol. 5 (210) [B18] My Dear Sir, The specimens of Funaria do not prove to be new. No 1 is a slender,
straight-pediceled form of F. hygrometrica,
near var. calvescens. The other, No 2 is as you
have it, very good F. hygrometrica var. calvescens. In addition to the characters of this var. as
given in the Manual, I have observed that the stem is generally longer and
the leaves more loosely placed and less connivent than in the ordinary form.
It also sometimes has red pedicels - such a form having been sent me from The following "sp.
nov." are described in my report. Elatine clintoniana,
Peck Rubus neglectus, Peck Danthonia compressa,
Amphoridium peckii,
Sulliv. Homalia gracilis, James Riccia sullivantii, I also feel some
satisfaction over the additions to our specimens of Sphagnum of which genus
we now have thirteen species represented in their various forms by about
thirty sheets of specimens. Am now engaged in mounting specimens. Very truly yours Charles H. Peck Judge G. W. Clinton Received Jan. 26 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Vol. 5 (219) [B9 My Dear Sir, The package of plants came to-day - all safe. Very many thanks. I will look at
the unnamed and doubtful specimens and let you know how they strike me,
though I fear I shall not be able to settle satisfactorily anything that you
can not. I had put up a few specimens, mostly mosses, for you, in
anticipation of a call from you and was disappointed in receiving a letter
instead of a call. Still I shall hope. I am the more anxious because I think
you will take pleasure in looking at the specimens of Cryptogamia
of the State Herbarium. I am confident that nothing can be found in the
state, which will surpass them in quality or completeness so far as they go. Very truly yours Charles H. Peck Judge G. W. Clinton Received Feb. 12 [note Vol. 5 (223) [B5] My Dear Sir, Of the specimens in
your package marked as not definitely determined, I conclude that the plant
from gardens, Richfield Sp[rings] is Spinacia oleracea, Mill. - the pistillate plant. The The specimens of Lepidium ruderale from Dr.
Clarke and also those from Mr. Parker I consider all right, but I have doubts
about that of Dr. Allen. Aside from the difference in the pod, the seeds in
it are margined quite as much as in L. virginicum. Roubieva multifida
all right. I am not able yet to
make out the Papaver; nor
to satisfy myself concerning the "Pimpinella anisum", any farther than to be assured that it is
not that plant. It is close to "Myrrhis odorata" of Beck's Coll. but I want to look up the
description. Late last fall I observed two very marked forms of Chenopodium, growing side by side, one with panicle much
more slender than the other, but upon analysis I could get no satisfactory
difference and finally thought they must be one species - C. album; but the
specimens were faded and "seedy", so were not preserved. I intend
to look after these forms still further another season, though I scarcely
expect to find them anything more than forms of one species. I will make all right
with Mrs. Atwater. Very truly yours Charles H. Peck Judge G. W. Clinton Received Feb. 16 [Note: Roubieva multifida, Moquin. [cf. Chenopodium multifidum, L. from Gray's old manual p. 433] Vol. 6 (5) [L 215] My Dear Sir, I have not seen Dr.
Stevens in some days, but had already laid aside a specimen of Pinus inops for you. I visited
the Dr.'s locality myself last season. I will add to your specimens Thalictrum purpurascens, but am
not able to furnish Pyrus sambucifolia,
having never found this species. The specimen you send looks as if it might
be it, yet I am not quite sure. As to a previous query, I do not see why Sorbus is not as worthy as Negundo.
It would be a step in advance if some certain characters could be fixed upon
as generic, others as specific. Dr. Woolworth informs
me that there will be a meeting of the Board or Cab. Comm. [Cabinet
Committee?] seen, which will afford you another opportunity of coming to Very truly yours Charles H. Peck Judge G. W. Clinton Received March 3 Vol. 6 (10) [L 209] My Dear Sir, I had hoped to see you
here yesterday and to deliver into your hands a small package of specimens
that I had put up for you. I will forward it to day by Express, hoping it may
add, at least a drop of "sweetening" to your botanical enjoyment.
Dr. Stevens wished me to say that an excessive demand upon his time by the sick had
prevented him from putting up some specimens for you. He hoped to get time
soon to look over his plants and wished to see you if you came to Not having duplicates
of the Rubus neglectus, I
send a photograph of the specimen we have - one, roughly
colored by my own inartistic fingers. The
fruit is far from true to nature - I could not get the pruinosity
or bloom, and
the photograph does not bring out the prickles and the bristly or hispid calyx as it should. In Thalictrum
purpurascens I find the firm thickish
leaves and the pointed
or cuspidate, long anthers the most available distinctive characters. It flowers earlier than cornuti. The specimens in flower were collected in June. Inflorescense sometimes polygamous. Thanks for the paper
with scientific proceedings. I most heartily endorse your ideas concerning
the "Darwinian theory" and believe they were not published a day
too soon. I have been almost pained to find so ready and extensive an
inclination to accept it, absurd as it is when carried to its full extent.
Bad as it is it may do some good by directing closer attention to and more
careful investigation of the true limits of species, for error here, I
apprehend is the power which inclines many toward the theory. Most truly yours, Charles H. Peck Judge G. W. Clinton P.S. I see Prof. Gray
in his Field, Forest & Garden Botany restores Quercus prinoides
to its rank as a species. C.H.P. Received March 13 Vol. 6 (14) [L 204] My Dear Sir, The genus Sphagnum does
appear to have been pretty closely sifted, and still there remain some forms,
called varieties, that to the naked eye appear far more worthy of being called
species, than do some that are now deemed good species. The microscopical characters seem to take precedence of
outward appearance. When I collected Riccia sullivantii, Aust. I
supposed it was R. sorocarpa,
but an examination of the fruit makes quite a difference. In R. sorocarpa the
capsules are aggregated and discharge the spores through the upper surface of
the frond - in R. sullivantii the capsule is
single, at or near the furcations and it bursts through the lower surface of the
frond. By the way if you find R. sorocarpa again in quantity I would like some, having about used
up the specimens you sent, in studying them out. I can not now say how
far Amphoridium and Zygodon
are synonymous. Mr. Sullivant gave me specimens of Mougeotii and lapponicum as
belonging to Amphoridium which he says was formerly
"Zygodon." Will see if he can give us the
reason and extent of the change. I am glad to have your
observations on Thalictrum cornuti
and purpurascens. I certainly deserve a scolding for
the shabbily lazy way in which I packed up the specimens sent
you. I will fix up some labels so far as I can remember and send to you,
hoping they may not reach you too late to save you the labor of making them
out. A few blanks will enable you to make out such as I may omit. I have
taken the liberty to use duplicates of specimens collected by me while in the
employ of the state, in making exchanges for the state. If this is going
beyond my just powers, you will check me up. They have commenced
printing the Report on the State Cabinet, but when it will be completed I can
not tell, I have seen no proofs yet of my paper. I believe everything is
moving nicely - the appropriation for botanist has been admitted by the Committee,
and will probably pass without any difficulty. I would be glad if
figures could be given of the new Elatine, Rubus, etc., but suspect the expense may be
too great to admit it. I would like also
to have Bryologia Europaea
obtained for the State Library - feeling too poor to buy it myself - but I fear to
ask for it, lest the authorities should
think my wants by far too numerous and costly. Very truly yours Charles H. Peck Judge G. W. Clinton P.S. I can make nothing
of the plant on Sphangum wulfianum,
nor do I find
any more of it on my remaining specimens. I enclose a specimen of Didymium xanthopus Fr. which I found on another species of
Sphagnum collected at the same time and
place as the wulfianum. C.H.P. Received March 19 Vol. 6 (17) [L 201] My Dear Sir, The little fungi I
consider Peziza granulata,
Bull. belonging to the series Aleuria,
subgenus Geopyxis, in which subgenus the spores are
as sketched on the enclosed scrap.
Your specimens are nicely fertile. I ought to follow your
example and visit the green houses in quest of botanical trophies, for it is a shame
that I should be so ignorant of the botanical
names of the many interesting and beautiful plants thus cultivated. But having entered the field of
Cryptogams I find it so extensive that I am almost lost in
bewilderment and can find more than enough
here to occupy all my time and attention. I am exceedingly
gratified to find the Regents so ready and willing to aid and sustain me and keenly
appreciate the privileges that are accorded to me; and you may be assured that if I fail
to do my work thoroughly and creditably
to all concerned it will be from no lack of will, disposition or effort. I find Judge Johnson quite
interested in the fungi, especially the fleshy and edible species, and am
really glad of it. Here is a field that promises not only beauty but also
utility of the most direct and practical kind. Very truly yours Charles H. Peck Judge G. W. Clinton Received March 26 Vol. 6 (20) [L 198] My Dear Sir, The little specimen you
send is a singular, morbid growth of some moss - apparantly a Hypnum - but what species I am by no means sure, the
leaves and especially the stem appearing to be quite abnormal - the latter
being thickened and colored and brittle. There are also slender elongated filaments
intermixed - rootlets of the moss probably. Having again looked
through my specimens of Sphangum wulfianum I find a
stem or two of Hypnum cordifolium
mixed with it, but whether the specimen you send is a diseased state of that
species or some other is not easy to say. I regret to hear that you are not
well and hope your indisposition will be of short duration. Very truly yours Charles H. Peck Judge G. W. Clinton Received about March 22 Vol. 6 (40) [L 178] My Dear Sir, Thanks for Oxalis corniculata. No 1 Hypnum orthocladon, Beauv. " 2 Barbula unguiculata, Br. &
Sch. I regret to learn of
your difficulty in walking and really hope you will soon be well and strong again. It
will certainly do me good to see you again. The Appropriation bill has at
last passed the Senate. This I suppose puts us all right for another year. Mrs. Atwater sends Spiranthes graminea from
Greenport, also the white flowered Sabattia stellaris. In a run after
specimens the other day I found some very good Buxbaumia
aphylla - a specimen of which I transmit with this. Very truly yours Charles H. Peck Judge G. W. Clinton Received May 2 Vol. 6 (56) [L 160] My Dear Sir, The specimens came
safely. Thanks to yourself and Mr. Day. No. 1 Is a fungus - Pistillaria muscicola, Fries. No. 2. As you have it -
Cystopus candidus, Leveille No. 3 I consider Polyporus hirsutus, Fries. but it is not in good condition. The other brown paper (no number)
contains the same species, which is a species quite variable in
appearance. I inclose a few specimens
showing the variation in part. I am not well pleased
with the appearance of some of the softer fungi collected by myself last season and
therefore have commenced this season in a little different way. I have begun
to figure and color the fresh specimen (not in the highest style of art, to
be sure, but as well as I can,) with the view of placing the illustrations in
the Herbarium by the side of the dried specimen. I am also extending this
plan so as to include also the essential characters of the
microscopic species. This will make my progress more slow, but, I think, more
satisfactory and more useful in the long time. I hope this plan may meet your
approval. I have discovered a way
of drying specimens of Coprinus which answers very
well and I will mention it to you that you may have the benefit of it if you
should have occasion to try to preserve specimens of these deliquescent inky
fellows. It is simply to tie a string to the base of the stipe
and hang them up, pileus downwards, in the sun or
by the stove until they are dry. Afterwards a little exposure to a damp
atmosphere will soften them enough to permit of pressing to the desired
shape. If you have any wish or
special plan for me to pursue or any particular locality for me to visit or ransack
especially, I shall be glad to follow your
suggestions or directions so far as I can. I regret that you were
again disappointed in coming to Very truly yours Charles H. Peck Judge G. W. Clinton Received May 31 Vol. 6 (63) [L152] [two sheets] My Dear Sir, Upon my return from I most assuredly want
all the help I can get in working up the fungi of the state, and well
preserved specimens from any one on any part of the state will be acceptable. I am
not at all fearful that the work will
be done too quick if others help me nor do I dread the labor or "bother", for I expect
some and shall take it as a part of my
business. Dr. Curtis writes that
the Agarics are his "cruces", the species are so numerous and change so much in
drying. Notwithstanding, I am attacking them with a firm resolve to
master them somehow. The process is slow, but I mean it to be
sure. For example I go out and if I find a specimen or specimens I
note habitat and mode of growth, whether
solitray, gregarious or caespitose,
and look for young as well as old
individuals and determine at once the character of the veil. I collect as many specimens as
convenient - quite a good many, if I
find them so as to get the range of variation in size color, etc., placing them carefully in a basket or
tin box. When home the first thing is
to clip off the pileus of one or two of the most perfect ones and set it right side up on a
piece of moderately stiff paper, black
paper if the lamina are white or the spores likely to be, white paper in all other cases. In cases
of doubt I sometimes use two pilei,
one on black, the other on white paper. These I place under an inverted tumbler or teacup
and generally leave them over night.
(Species of Coprinus must not be left so long).
After I have arranged for catching the spores I next proceed to figure the species, making
it natural size and coloring as near as possible according to nature. I make at least three
portions to the figure showing a section, another the upper
side of the pileus and another the under side. Then if I do not know the
species to be well described, I write out a full description of it. This done
I place the
specimens on a paper and lay in the sun if it shines bright, if not, under or by the stove, Coprinus excepted, till they are dry. Species of Coprinus
will be sure to melt into an inky muss if the pileus is
allowed to touch any thing. These I hang up or pin up, pileus
downwards. Some of the membranaceus [sic] species
will even then turn themselves inside out, but usually some of the younger ones will come out
all right. Once dry, they may be kept till a convenient time and then softened by
exposure to a damp air, over night, or
a few hours in the day time, when a little careful manipulating and pressure between the thumb
and finger will bring them to proper
shape to lie on paper. Then they may be redried in papers under
pressure after the usual manner. A few dry leathery species
like Ag. mappa, A. petaloides
and [63, L 153 on back of
second sheet] species of Marasmius
may be put at once in drying, papers with good results if they are free from
insects or their eggs. A sharp penknife is all
that I use for slicing. I only slice the larger thicker species, considering
it enough to split the small ones in
halves. I suspect your large
fellow with the hollow stipe and central
cottony pilar
(in young state) is Coprinus atramentarius,
though several if not all the larger Coprini have the same character. These mostly grow in manured
ground or dung heaps. I took three species of Agaricus
from a cranberry marsh in I had hoped you would
have time the afternoon you were in Very truly yours Charles H. Peck Judge G. W. Clinton Received June 13 Vol. 6 (76) [L 138] My Dear Sir, I should have before
acknowledged the receipt of Thymus serpyllum,
L. but was not home when it came, I returned last night from a botanical trip on L. Island, where I
have been foraging a little among the
algae, fungi, etc. Dianthus armeria is quite abundant throughout the eastern end of the island
growing in pastures, copses, and by roadsides. Trifolium procumbens
occurs at Riverhead and Greenport but is not so common. I am confident that this species does not
grow in the vicinity of Very truly yours Charles H. Peck Judge G. W. Clinton Received July 23 Vol. 6 (79) [L 135] My Dear Sir, I thought I enclosed
the moss you sent, in my letter to you yesterday, but have just found this
tuft under my table, where I suppose I
must have dropped it. My purpose is to start
for the North woods again in a few days. I had thought of spending a day or two on
the top of Very truly yours Charles H. Peck Judge G. W. Clinton Received July 31 [On back and crossed out: "July 31,
1869. This, just recd. from [W. P.? Mr. P.?] explains
itself. Yours truly G. C. Clinton Vol. 6 (81) [L 133] My Dear Sir, The specimen is Marasmius siccus, of Fries I
think, but do not remember the author positively and my books are in This dry weather is not
very favorable to the production of fungi, and drives me into the swamps.
Next week I expect to be fungusing
in the North woods. Very truly yours Charles H. Peck Judge G. W. Clinton Received Aug. 16 Vol. 6 (100) [L 113] My Dear Sir, the specimens came safely. Thanks for them. I
have been looking at them this forenoon with the following rather
unsatisfactory results. No. 1 Erineum fagineum, Pers. 2 Not determined 3 Uredo species uncertain 4. Not determined 5. Not determined 6. Imperfect - no
spores 7. Appears to be the exuviae of some minute insect. 8. Microsphaera
spores undeveloped 9. Uncinula
adunca, Lev. 10. Cladosporium
and something else. 11. Lenzites
sepiaria, Fr. 12. Not determined 13. Rhytisma
solidaginis, Schw. 14. Sphaeria
ulmea, Schw. 15. Imperfect. 16. Puccinia
aculeata, Schw. 17. Roestelia
lacerata, Sow. (Young state) It looks
quite different when fully developed. There
has been a great crop of it this summer on our thorn bushes
and Amelanchier.
I collected it in the same state as yours, thinking it some species allied to Sphaeria. Not being able to determine it I sent specimens to
Dr. Curtis, but got no name. By watching it I found that toward the end of summer
it developed as above stated. These
double forms or rather metamorphoses and frequent abortive developments of fungi make them
sometimes quite puzzling. XNo. 18. Ustilago segetum, Dittm. 19. Not determined. X No. 20. Hypnum serpens, Hedw. Such of the above undetermined ones
as I find perfect I will see if
Dr. C. can name. I send him only perfect ones fully analyzed and
figured and in this way I find that many
things of my own collecting are left on
my hands undetermined. But time
and patience will, I trust, bring out some of these. It is provoking to think that I have been
able to name less than half your specimens,
but so it is. The Chenopodium
I think is C. murale, L. with very small leaves, and of rather
bushy growth. The calyx and fruit appear to be all right for that species. I have to day just
returned the last proof sheets of my report, so its publication may be
expected at no very distant day. Very truly yours Charles H. Peck Judge G. W. Clinton P. S. I hope to send
you a few specimens when I get a little over my present pressure of work. C. H. P. Received Nov. 6 Vol. 6 (104) [L 109] My Dear Sir, By all means send me
fresh specimens of that fungus from grapery if you find any more of them. They
will keep sometime this cool weather. And if you are not too busy
I would like also to see those dried specimens. There may be some
among them recognizable and if so it is worth knowing that such are
found in your part of the state. I found at least four
species, new to me, on Saturday and regret to see winter setting in so early,
the ground this morning being white
with snow. I am getting quite
thoroughly interested in the Agaricini and feel quite
confident that we have many undescribed species. I have figured and described from fresh
specimens nearly all that I have collected
during the season and in comparing them with the descriptions in books I am led to conclude
that there is in this department of
botany a rich field for labor. I purpose giving in my next report (unless you think it out
of place) descriptions of all the
species thus far found and investigated by me in their fresh state. I believe I can make them so that
they will be of much advantage, so far as they go, to
students who may wish to form the acquaintance
of these singular plants. I shall be most glad to
hear from Mr. Crittenden and aid him as far as I can in the mosses. Very truly yours Charles H. Peck Judge G. W. Clinton Received Nov. 10 & ansd
& complied with [Mr. Crittenden of Vol. 6 (109) [L 104] My Dear Sir, The specimens are at
hand. I am glad to see them. Some of them are recognisable.
The fresh ones from Mr. Bowen's grapery is Agaricus procerus - a species
that I have not seen fresh this year and I shall try to figure it from these.
It is also among the dried specimens but apparently smaller. I notice also
Ag. rachodes, a nearly
related species, Marasmius rotula,
Lactarius vole[...], Hygrophorus
cinnabarinus, Polyporus lucidus, elegans, boucheanus, etc. also the singular Boletus (B. strobilaceus) spoken of by Judge Johnson when you and he
were here. I shall label and place aside for you, these and such others as
are nameable. There is a query about
the one with grass extending through it. I have not atually
seen the operation but it is clear to my mind that the fungus embraces the grass in its (the fungus)
growth. I have seen dead grass and even twigs thus
penetrating fungi, hard firm species of Polyporus,
too, which they could by no means have penetrated in their growth. I have
just been lookng over the Phaenogam[us]
collected the past season and find new to the State, Spergularia
media, Nabalus boottii, Rhinanthus crista-galli, Vincetoxicum nigrum, Stipa richardsonii and Calamagrostis pickeringii. This
last I find best described by Prof. Wood under the name Calamagrostis
purpurascens, Brown. The lower palea
in my specimens is 2-toothed at the apex, not obtuse as Gray has it. The
glumes are also more pointed than one would think from Prof. Gray's
descriptions. It is probable the plant varies some in these particulars, as
also in the comparative length of the panicle and culm. Very truly yours Charles H. Peck Judge G. W. Clinton Received Nov. 13 Vol. 6 (124) [L 89] My Dear Sir, Thanks for the "Merry
Christmas". Moss - Atichum angustatum Beauv. Puff ball x- Lycogala epidendrum Fr. Jelly - Exidia glandulosa Fr. Cup x- Cyathus striatus Hoffm. This last species I had
not seen before and am very glad you sent it. Mr. Gerard found it at I have had in mind for some
time to put up some specimens for you to take home with you from the annual meeting
of the Regents and will yet do so if I have to sit up all night to accomplish
it. I am working under high pressure to get my report and
descriptions of fungi ready in time for the annual meeting. I this morning received
a note from Prof. Gray and was glad to now that he has
returned from his long absence. A happy New Year to you
and yours. In haste, Yours very
truly Charles H. Peck Judge G. W. Clinton Received Dec. 30 [Note the "x"s
regarding some of the determinations are some notation of Vol. 6 (125) [L 88] My Dear Sir, The specimens from tree
are No. 1 Schizophyllum
commune Fr. x 2 Tubercularia
vulgaris Tode Very truly yours Charles H. Peck Judge G. W. Clinton Received Dec. 31 |
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