His friend Rev E[dward] F[rancis] Linton has suggested me applying to you for a few figures - numbers of the phanerogams in Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden and Lapland) or in these countries separately, also in Denmark if available - required for comparison with those of other European areas & also other parts of the world - do not require latest estimates - prefer numbers from books 30-40-50 years ago, or if the numbers are only to be had in very recent works I should be obliged if you would accompany them by a general indication of what amount per cent should be deducted to approximate the scale of species of Hooker or Bentham.