Description

The last letter Short received from Hooker was dated 24 Mar, enclosing a list of desiderata from the Duke of Bedford. Short replied on 4 June promising to make up a package of roots and seeds for his Grace. He collected many things but the package was too small to be sent alone; he will make it larger over the course of the summer. In the meantime, Short shall send Hooker a parcel of seeds. In a previous letter, Short acknowledged receipt of the drawings of medicinal plants Hooker sent to Dr Torrey for him eight months ago, which admirably illustrated his lectures on materia madica. Last September, Short visited the prairies of the far west on a 300 mile tour through Illinois. He was able to make botanical notes and collections. He describes the landscape of the prairies. As a botanist he was disappointed: despite an abundance of vegetation, there was little variety. He saw a profusion of Liatris scariosa and Coreopsis trichosperma, but the range of some species was limited. He also found Dalea alopecuroides and a new Thymus. In some places the 'replusive weed' Ambrosia bidentata had taken over and in others Boebera glandulosa was so abundant it produced a sickening odour. Erigeron divaricatus occurred in profusion. Short lists other species he came across; he saw no ferns and few mosses and fungi. He is engaged in distributing his collection from this tour among his friends. A share shall be sent to Hooker via Dobson in Philadelphia next month. He asks if Hooker received the large package sent last spring or the box of acorns sent 18 months ago. Short is sorry the COMPANION TO THE BOTANICAL MAGAZINE has been discontinued and asks if Hooker has anything similar. He wonders when FLORA BOREALI-AMERICANA shall be completed. American botany has recently lost two devotees: Mr Croone[?] of Florida, who drowned on his way from New York to Charleston, and Short's pupil Dr Peck, who had settled in Louisiana, died of the fever last autumn. Page 1 of 4.