WMH’s agent is coming to Down for CD to sign transfer of £5000 North Eastern Railway stocks. Horace is coming to his office to execute the marriage-settlement.

JDH writes to Sir Wiliam Turner Thiselton-Dyer about their mutual poor health. His own health is improving although he still has rheumatic pains & trouble breathing outside. He is keen to get back to work at RBG Kew. JDH is glad that Hubble is gone. He criticizes [John] Smith's tendency to give new untried [RBG Kew] staff the same salary as the experienced men they replace & blames it on his class. JDH is going to wtie to Smith about some other staff: Sharpe, Martin & Masters. He thinks that they need better management of their foremen & suggests [William] Watson. JDH thinks the qualities needed are an outdoor gardener who knows ornamental horticulture, will notice his subordinates deficiencies, which Smith does not, & who will oversee expenditure on labour, materials & plants. Such a man would be worth a good salary. Though JDH fears they would be too qualified & ambitious to remain a foreman. JDH refers to [John Hutton] Balfour selecting a man [to be his successor as Her Majesty's Botanist?]. JDH asks if [Philip Henry Wodehouse] Currie has replied to his letter, JDH forgot to send Currie the promised box of seeds for Cyprus.