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Berkeley, California
March 9, 1956

Mr. Marshall P. Madison
225 Bush Street
San Francisco, California

Dear Mr. Madison:

At the suggestion of Paul C. Hutchison, Sr. Botanist in this Botanical Garden,
I am outlining below the South American project in the support of which you
expressed interest in a recent conversation with him.

I have been invited by the Chilean Government to spend some months in Chile to
contribute toward realizing the agricultural potential of that republic by
lectures and technical advice. My acceptance will largely depend upon the pos-
sibility of financing the continuation of my studies of the composition and
distribution of the vegetation of Chile and Peru and, if possible, of adjacent
portions of Bolivia and Argentina.

Since 1935 I have directed five botanical expeditions, principally on the West
Coast of South America. You have, I think, a recent publication in which the
maps show the large area covered by these expeditions. Mr. Hutchison accompanied
me on the last expedition, in 1951-52, and proved to be a successful and know-
ledgeable plant collector.

The past expeditions have received wide recognition because of their contributions
to knowledge of the vegetation of previously unexplored or little known South
American areas. In addition to such noteworthy scientific products, new plants of
potential industrial, agricultural and particularly ornamental importance for
California have been found and introduced. To repay in part the sustained coopera-
tion of South American governments I have assisted them in numerous botanical and
agricultural projects.

The five expeditions which have cost a total of over $110,000 were financed entirely
from extrabudgetary sources and principally by donations from private individuals
interested in their objectives.

From July 1956 to February 1957 I propose to explore additional little known areas
in the tropical rain forest on the Peruvian headwaters of the Amazon, on the coasts
and on the slopes of the Andes of Chile and Peru and on the Andean plateaus of the
Chilean, Peruvian, Bolivian and Argentine frontiers. In addition to scientific
products those areas should yield seeds or living plants of trees, shrubs and vines
and in particular of Fuchsias, Orchids, Begonias, Ferns, Cacti and Succulents new to
or otherwise important for California horticulture.

To carry out this proposal Mr. Hutchison's assistance would be desirable because of
his knowledge of the needs of California horticulture and his proven success as a
collector. The services of a second assistant and of two to four local plant col-
lectors in South America would also be required. I estimate that for transportation
of personnel to and in South America, board and lodging, salaries, shipping and care
of plant material after return to California the cost would be $14,500.

I have obtained tentative approval of the above proposal from Prof. L. Constance,
Dean of the College of Letters and Science, and understand that following approval
of the Department of Botany, he will refer it to President Sproul. The expedition
would be designated the "6th University of California Botanical Garden Expedition