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Milwaukee Nov 6th 1857
Dear Sir
Your further remarks on No. 3 enables me to decide that it is Psoralia brachiata, Douglass, in Hooker’s Fl. Bor. Am. brought from the Plains of Saskatchawan. It is called by the French Navet de Prairie (or Prairie Turnip.) I hope you will succeed in growing it, and if so, preserve every specimen you can for exchange with botanists. It will be in demand among them!
Perhaps the catalogue of Red River plants alone would be most advisable, with notes; - & of course all credit must be awarded to those to whom it is due. The more general catalogue of Minnesota plants may be reserved for another time.
I have constructed a map of the Red river country from Nicollet, corrected from Owen & Pope – and it agrees exactly with your note from Two Lakes to the Otter tail Lake! - *
I cannot visit you – at least not at present – as you propose – so I must beg to question you a little, as on next sheet.
[page turned written on left side] * But the river heads in Elbow Lake 30 miles or so north of Two Lakes, according to Nicollet. Is he wrong?
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I will send the shells to Chicago. They are not very valuable – Will do for exchanges – I send them very much as they were gathered.
I shall look with much interest for the collection of plants.
Very truly yours I A Lapham
R. Kennicott Esq
[page turned, stamped on left side] J. Kennicott Brenton Collections
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What was your route after leaving “Lapham” both going & returning?
Did you find more timber north than south of that place – Any part of the country covered with forests like Northern Wisconsin? &c – Any pine? Any timber trees suitable for lumber and square timber?
Did you find any rock in place?
Give me a list of streams & remarkable places, and their distances on the route so that I can enter them on the map.
What do you think of the grass=hoppers? Will they be a permanent evil in that country or only occasional? &c –
What is your general impression of the country as a place for settlement and occupation by farmers? &c
If this is asking too much, do the best you can!
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[partial postmark] MILWA NO 7 185 WIS
Robert Kennicott Esq West Northfield Cook Co Illinois