From:
Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Henry Bolus
Date:
24 September 1879
Source of text:
JDH/2/3/3 f.41-42, The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Summary:
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Contributor:
Hooker Project
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JDH writes to Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer regarding Térme[?] repeatedly objecting to the appointment of George Samuel Jenman, previously as Superintendent of the Jamaica Botanic Garden [Castleton] & now to a post with the Museum at Demerara [British Guiana, now Guyana]. JDH recommended [Sir Anthony] Musgrave send Jenman to Venezuela for chocolate. JDH will respond to a letter from Campbell. JDH discusses the deterioration of the wood work in the hot houses at RBG Kew, including the Orchid House, Victoria[?] House & Tropical Fern House, & suggests ventilation & using hard wood would prolong its life from the 6 years predicted by John Smith. He mentions using brown paper to patch up Palm House holes. Mentions £2000 should do more in [Economic Botany] Museum Number 1 than pay for a staircase. JDH adds in a post script that they have been to Stirling & Callander.
JDH is returning corrected proofs of the [RBG Kew Annual] Report to Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer. As the weather is 'wretched' JDH suspects Thiselton-Dyer is troubled by leakages at RBG Kew & consequently dealing with the Works Department. JDH reports that his son Willie [William Henslow Hooker], currently with his tutor James Digues La Touche, is ill & suffering with haemorrhoids. JDH is busy re-landscaping [Sir James William] Colvile's grounds at Craigflower House. He mentions removing poplars & 'used up evergreens'.
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JDH writes to Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer about a recent trip to Edinburgh, where he had lunch with [John Hutton] Balfour, Isaac [Bayley Balfour], [Alexander] Dickson & [John] Sadler. He reports that Balfour is as ill as normal & speculates as to whether he will get his pension whilst retaining the Regius keepership of Botany at Edinburgh University. Dickson, his successor as Chair of Botany at the university is pleased to have given responsibility for the Edinburgh Botanic Garden & arboretum to the Curator [John] Sadler. JDH briefly discusses the funding & layout of the new arboretum & praises the condition of the garden. JDH stayed with Isaac Anderson-Henry in his villa. It is well known that [Malcolm] Dunn has ambitions to succeed John Smith as Curator of RBG Kew, JDH does not hear good reports of his character or skills as a gardener. JDH has seen Lord Melville's grounds & garden at Lasswade, which are kept up by a conscientious gardener. At the flower show in Edinburgh JDH met RBG Kew's ex orchid man, Russell & the gardener from Drumlanrig Castle, David Thomson. JDH ignored Dunn & McKinley[?]. The nature of Sir Wyville Thomson's illness is not known, there are no rumours about his resignation or appointing a successorship so JDH deduces that Lankester's actions are not known except to Allman, & in London. JDH hopes it is not too late to draw Montbretia pottsi. He is delighted about River's interest in the Teak & sorry that WTTD has had trouble with the Colonial Office, JDH will write to [Robert Henry] Meade about it. He explains that he could not leave a carriage for Harriet Thiselton-Dyer as their horse was worn out & the state of their job master uncertain. He discusses alterations to the museum building at RBG Kew & mentions the state of door lintels in the orchid houses. Bad weather will prevent JDH going to the Trossachs with his son Reggie [Reginald Hawthorn Hooker].
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