From F. J. Myers 20 January 1881
Mrs. S. M. Rust, Pres’t. Mrs. A. D. Fairbanks, Treas. " S. H. Gifford Vice-Pres’t. " M. J. Myers Sec’y. The Syracuse Botanical Club | Syracuse, N.Y., | Cor Hawley & Green Sts | Syracuse, N.Y. | U.S.A.
Jan 20th. 1881
Dr Darwin
Dear Sir
A short time since I saw in one of the New York City papers, that you were confined to the house by illness,1 and the thought came to me that it might interest you to hear of our Botanical Club. It is composed entirely of ladies, number limited to thirty two. We have been in existence about two years. We began as a class formed for the study of ferns, Mrs Rust our President is a very thorough botanist,2 she has also excellent executive ability. We have never been in debt, and have quite a little sum in Bank. Have purchased a very good herbarium case, and hired rooms. Are about to purchase a Microscope. We have received many presents of books and plants. Gave an Author’s party last November for the purpose of raising money— We made about ninety dollars. There is a class meeting weekly— we are now at work on climbing plants. using Gray’s new Structural and your work on the subject.3 I have studied your Insectivorous plants, and Fertilization of Orchids, & read Voyage of a Naturalist, and Origin of Species.4 The Club members under the direction of Mrs Rust, meet weekly to place in the case, the specimens collected, poisoned & mounted, last summer. The object now is to arrange a complete collection and catalogue of our Onondaga Co. Flora.5 We have about forty species of ferns represented here, our limestone rocks give us many. Our fertile valley, and woody hillsides yield many more. The rarest are Scolopendrium, A. Rutamuraria, B lunaria, & matricuriæfolium & simplex.6 We all hope very soon to hear of your restored health, and all wish to tell you how very much we enjoy your thorough scientific work,
And now my dear Sir, believe me always. | Resp’y yr’s. | Frances J. Myers. | Cor, Secy of The S. B. Club
Footnotes
Bibliography
Climbing plants 2d ed.: The movements and habits of climbing plants. 2d edition. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1875.
Gray, Asa. 1879. Gray’s botanical text-book. Vol. I. Structural botany or organography on the basis of morphology. To which is added the principles of taxonomy and phytography, and a glossary of botanical terms. 6th edition. New York and Chicago: Ivison, Blakeman, and Company.
Insectivorous plants US ed. By Charles Darwin. New York: D. Appleton & Co. 1875.
Journal of researches US ed. (1872): Journal of researches into the natural history and geology of the countries visited during the voyage of H.M.S. Beagle round the world, under the command of Capt. FitzRoy. By Charles Darwin. New edition. New York: D. Appleton and Company. 1872.
Orchids 2d US ed.: The various contrivances by which orchids are fertilised by insects. By Charles Darwin. 2d edition, revised. New York: D. Appleton and Company. 1877.
Origin 3d US ed.: On the origin of species by means of natural selection, or the preservation of favored races in the struggle for life. By Charles Darwin. From the 6th London edition. New York: D. Appleton and Company. 1873.
Summary
Gives an account of the Syracuse Botanical Club and its activities.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-13020
- From
- Frances J. Hough/Frances J. Myers
- To
- Charles Robert Darwin
- Sent from
- Syracuse, N.Y.
- Source of text
- DAR 171: 526
- Physical description
- ALS 3pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 13020,” accessed on 28 March 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-13020.xml