Norton,-The Botanical Survey of Maine


   I am very happy to learn that you have spent so much time, so suc-
 CESSFULLY in the Botanical researches suggested and I am happy to
 receive an evidence of your industry in the specimen sheets forwarded.
   You ask my advice in regard to the work. I hardly know what to say
 to you, I would however respectfully suggest that if you make up your
 mmd to describe the plants of Maine it would be advisable to change the
 title to that of "Flora of Maine" and the Flora of Maine when completed
 may rightfully comprehend the plants of Canada and the Province of New
 Brunswick and Nova Scotia as well as the Alpine plants of New Hamp-
 shire.
   If you could spend a summer or a portion of a summer in exploring the
 St. John River and its tributaries from mouth to source, you would find
 many specimens not found in your neighborhood and they would be a
 fair sample of the New Brunswick plants.
   The White Hills run over into Maine and to my certain knowledge the
 spurs of these mountains in Maine produce all the plants found in New
 Hampshire, so you can avail yourself of all the descriptions of those
 plants which you can find.
   You will then want to have an exploration of our sea coast and islands
 which would consume another, or what would be the same thing, the
 labor of some one during the summer. I do not know whether our coast
 has ever had a Botanical survey. William Allen, D.D. late President of
 Bowdoin College paid a good deal of attention to our marine plants near
 Brunswick. He now lives in North Hampton, Mass., and I presume will
 give you a list of what plants he has found there.
   Prof. Keeley of Waterville College will give you a list of plants in his
 neighborhood which he has explored pretty well. Dr. Scammon of Hallo-
 well will probably give you a list of plants found in his neighborhood.
   Perhaps you will ask me why cannot you furnish me some list? Alas
 I have spent heretofore, much time studying the Natural History of
 Maine with the view of publishing a general work on the subject while at
 Gardiner Lyceum; the story needn't be told; but I will merely say that
 in trying to do my duty to the Institution I fell largely in debt and my
 cabinet (by the liberality of the Trustees) which cost me more than a
 thousand dollars and several years of the best part of my life, was wrested
 from me and what now remains is at the Lyceum yet.' Let it go, I had to'
 look out for bread for myself and family and let the Science of Nat. Hist.
 of Maine take care of itself. Were it not for this I could assist you, as it
 is I can only wish you God speed and will endeavor to help you by any
 views or suggestions which may occur to me.
 I like your plan of the work, would put in such short facts as regards
 the medicinal and common uses to which the plants are put.
 Please command me in anything that I can serve you and may plenary
 success attend your labors.
                                       Cordially yours, E. Holmes.
  Aaron Young was now determined to produce a "Flora of Maine,"
an ambition which he had long cherished and worked for, though he
had restricted the title of his first paper in deference to the advice of
Ezekiel Holmes. It would also seem, from other correspondence that
  I The building which had housed the Lyceum, with its contents, was destroyed by
fire in 1870.


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