JDH agrees with what Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer [WTTD] has observed about the lateness of spring vegetation immediately south of the Alps. JDH met Mr Duckworth at the Royal Institute, he had recently seen WTTD & Harriet Thiselton-Dyer, they attended Balfour's lecture which was good in substance but not style. JDH never saw McMurdo's garden but imagines it was a 'floriferousness' looked after by his wife, a skilled gardener. JDH discusses plans for the Temperate House at RBG Kew & what should be put in the 'octagons', wings & centre depending on the conditions. He is certain they should be able to grow Banksias, south European plants & things from the Cape & Australia as they used to do in the abysmal old glass houses No.1 & No.3 museum, figures of the plants grown there can be seen in the BOTANICAL MAGAZINE. JDH hopes de Barg will 'be carried'. Bliss is going on holiday & will prepare the pay sheets before he goes. [John] Smith has returned to RBG Kew but will leave again soon & still does not look well. JDH praise the work of Garrett as foreman & the improvements made to the No. 4 glasshouse. [William] Watson is generally doing well but JDH complains he put the sick palms in the unheated Cinchona pits, among other things. JDH doubts 'Master Derry's competence'. Heavy transplanting work is going on in the arboretum & lumber needs moving from the Zinnia[?] garden. He is about to begin work in glasshouse No.1 where things along the paths are killing each other whilst the middle is a vacuum. JDH wants [George] Bentham to arrange Munro's grasses, he needs to work if he is to recoup his expenses for the last part of GENERA [PLANTARUM]. Spottiswoode has gone to Italy for his health, Huxley is also reportedly ill. Tyndall & his wife visited, they are building a house. WTTD is invited to dine at the Pharmaceutical Society. Brandis will arrive in a week. Sends regards to Bessie White as was.