JDH writes to Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer [WTTD], who is in Gavernie, [France]. Since WTTD left, RBG Kew has had many visitors: the French Royal family including JDH's 'old acquaintances' the Comte de Paris & Duc de Chartres, also [George] Bentham's family & Madame Ragnal. The death of [Algernon Freeman-] Mitford's father in law in Denver, Colorado will delay Mitford coming to RBG Kew. Reports that the Palms in the Palm House have recovered after over heating. A box of Cycad leaves has arrived for WTTD from Denmark also Bangalore Cycas specimens from Cameron & 2 cases of palms from Thornton. [Ferdinand von] Mueller, whom JDH calls 'little better than a lunatic', sent some Andersonias; blue flowered Epacridaceae to be figured in the Magazine [CURTIS'S BTOANICAL MAGAZINE?] but all arrived dead. JDH summarises his correspondence with Maw regarding rock gardens. John Smith, [Kew Curator] will soon return from Cornwall, but he need not as JDH gets on well with his deputy George Nicholson & William Watson is also doing well. JDH, in agreement with Walters, has dismissed 2 lads he found messing around in the Palm House. [William] Nock has not yet turned up [at Hakgala, Sri Lanka]. [James] Zohrab has visited RBG Kew, he expects to go to St Thomas, [Danish West Indies, now the United States Virgin Islands]. JDH has not received the 'Report' & has written to Reid. JDH gathers from the newspapers that Colonel Johnston is in India. JDH hopes that Watt will go to Manipur. JDH describes what a struggle it has been for him & his father, William Jackson Hooker, to develop the RBG Kew herbarium over the last 40 years, with the British Museum [of Natural History] as an impediment. Things have improved for Henry Trimen at Hakgala Garden, [Sri Lanka], & he has received the Landolphias & Cinchonas. [Daniel] Morris also received his cases in good order. JDH is working hard in the arboretum & praises Nicholson's work there. JDH must give his list of palm genera to [George] Bentham.
Visiting his son Horace.
Studying action of carbonate of ammonia. Finds similar looking Euphorbia root cells react differently.
Intrigued by Dischidia rafflesiana, whose pitchers manufacture manure-water that nourishes adventitious roots. Does JDH know histologist for detailed study?
Julius von Wiesner’s criticism of Movement in plants "vivisects" CD in "a most courteous but awful manner" [Das Bewegungsvermögen der Pflanzen (1881)].
Pleasure in reading Earthworms.
Buying land to build a cottage.
Finishing palms for Genera plantarum after three years’ work.
On plants CD requested.
Frank should work on Dischidia.
Work on palms.
Overloaded with reading.
Profuse thanks for plants.
Specifies which euphorbs he wants. Euphorbs’ alternate rows of ammonium carbonate reactive/non-reactive cells are worth more study.
Cannot read signature on letter sent via JDH from Lima.
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Benjamin D. Jackson will edit new Steudel’s Nomenclator.
JDH’s impressions of Lyell’s Life and letters, edited by Mrs K. M. Lyell [1881].
Thanks CD for his endowment of new Steudel’s Nomenclator [later to become Index Kewensis].
K. White’s gruesome ballad "Gondoline" frightened JDH as a child.
JDH writes, in response to a letter from Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer [WTTD], that he is disappointed by the decision of the Board regarding Ernst Gottlieb von Steudel [and the updating of the Nomenclator Botanicus]. JDH advises WTTD to be cautious in appealing to the Board for resources for the Cryptogamic department until it is known how the division of labour on Cryptogams will fall between RBG Kew & the British Museum [of Natural History] under Lefever. JDH also speculates that Algernon Freeman-Mitford may not be first Commissioner [of Works] much longer & this may have a bearing on the matter. Comments on the length of a biography of [Charles] Lyell & wonders whether Hughes will write up the life of Adam Sedgewick. It was foggy in the Severn Valley the day JDH travelled to Pendock, picking up Harriet [Thiselton-Dyer nee Hooker] on the way, at Gloucester. En route JDH saw Frederick William Waller, who he is thinking about engaging to do some building work. JDH is working on Aroideae, his final contribution to GEBERA PLANTARUM. He finds Heinrich Engler's arrangement of Aroideae unnatural & his descriptions verbose. In a post script JDH thanks WTTD for forwarding a Gas Company receipt.
JDH thanks Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer for his letters & replies to his question regarding Mr Woodbridge's concerns about varnishing Marianne North's pictures. JDH discusses an answer to the Board regarding appointment of a permanent foreman for the Herbaceous ground. JDH is not certain whether Dewar should yet be raised to the position of permanent propagating foreman but they will need someone to take on that role too. JDH cannot understand why the First Commissioner of Works [Algernon Freeman-Mitford] will not answer his letter on the subject. JDH thinks that the erroneous report of [George] Bentham's death arose through the death of Mrs Bentham & has been perpetuated by gossip. JDH has met with Frederick William Waller about building a house & likes what he has seen of his work. JDH [& Lady Hyacinth Hooker] are to have lunch with Sir William Guise at Elmore.
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