JDH writes that he is sending Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer the 'memoriae' for [Miles Joseph] Berkeley. JDH notes that he could not recall the official name of Berkeley's pension. JDH discusses getting signatures [for Berkeley's pension?] from officers of various societies. JDH regrets that he cannot come to WTTD's garden employees' party because he is ill with bronchitis.

JDH writes praising Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer's 'Argyle article', referring to the 8th Duke of Argyle [George John Douglas Campbell] a leader of scholarly opposition to Darwinism. JDH states he has always disagreed with Argyle's attitude to Darwin, evolution & coral reefs which is a shame as Argyle has the skill to be a 'first rate naturalist'. JDH blames 'the obfuscation of Scotch metaphysics' & Argyle's family & upbringing. He describes Argyle's strong willed mother & relative poverty & mentions his upbringing by Scottish divinity students. JDH mentions a lost document regarding the Fredenhsborg [Fredensborg] Garden. JDH is anxious about mismanagement of funds at the Royal Horticultural Society. He asks about a matter regarding West Indian soil which will place demands on [Daniel] Morris's time. JDH mentions the need for a typed revision of Steudel's invaluable NOMENCLATOR BOTANICUS SEU SYNONYMIA PLANTARUM UNIVERSALIS & discusses plans for Francis 'Frank' Darwin & Cambridge Press to publish one. He also notes that Steudel omitted over 1,000 species of Lamarck [Jean-Baptiste Pierre Antoine de Monet] & [Jean Louis Marie] Poiret. JDH sympathises with the eye problems of Harriet [Thiselton-Dyer] & their son 'Georgie' [George Henry Thiselton-Dyer], he wishes he could bequeath them his own, which have withstood many years of orchid dissection. JDH discusses his study of Neottieae. Writes that various members of his family & household have had influenza, JDH has had bronchitis & is taking quinine for it he may also need a change of climate & [Thomas Henry] Huxley has suggested Teneriffe but JDH does not care for it.

JDH writes to Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer regarding the election of Truman[?] Wood to an unspecified committee; Hickson as a possible opponent must not be given too much support though Sclater might do so. JDH discusses the value of working up Steudel's plant list [Nomenclator botanicus seu Synonymia plantarum universalis], his own part in it & the encouragement & assistance of others such as [John] Ball, Asa Gray & Daniel Oliver. The list will inevitably have omissions & mistakes but it was an invaluable aid to JDH when working on the Indian orchids &, for example, in the Indian Habenaria & Planthera JDH noted only 2 errors in several hundred entries, & Dendrobium & Cyperus are also very accurate. JDH had intended to show Thiselton-Dyer the 'specimen page' [for proposed publication of Steudel's list] but his mind is preoccupied with Neottieae. Though stretching the truth Francis 'Frank' Darwin could claim the Syndics that RBG Kew's assistance with the list was 'unofficial'. JDH adds that he is seriously thinking about giving up [editing] the BOTANICAL MAGAZINE.

JDH suggests as possible candidates to present the 'Berkeley Memorial' of which RBG Kew is a beneficiary. He suggests The President of the Royal Society, President of the Linnean Society or President of the Royal Horticultural Society. The memorial will need to be put before the Prime Minister. JDH explains that he is currently working on orchids & has done a lot of work in conjunction with George Bentham on rearranging the Neottieae & Ophrydeae. JDH wishes to show William Turner Thiselton-Dyer a letter from George King. JDH is going to Folkston for a fortnight from about the 14 [Feb 1890].

No summary available.

JDH writes that he is enclosing a copy of what he has written for W A Smith. Says that Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer [WTTD] will have concluded that the site of the kitchen garden was taken over for tree propagation for the Parks during Sir Benjamin Hall's time [as First Commissioner of Works]. The trees have now gone to Aldershot, Woolwich, Battersea & Victoria Parks. JDH says that a lot were sold cheaply or burnt as the Board of Works would not go to the expense of properly distributing & replanting stock. Potatoes continued to be grown to keep the 'kitchen garden' ground open. JDH reports that [John] Tyndall is much better but delicate.

JDH writes that he is returning a signed cheque [item not present] to Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer. JDH is currently ill with bronchitis. Asks if [his son] Brian [Harvey Hodgson Hooker] has told Harriet [Thiselton-Dyer, nee Hooker] that he has a daughter. JDH writes that he is enclosing Brian's letter [enclosure not present]. JDH has just finished revising Xyridea, which hadn't been touched for 50 years. New drawings from fresh specimens are needed & JDH is urging [George] King to do them. JDH has made 2 or 3. He will be ready for the Palms soon. [Odorado] Beccari has promised references but JDH is not looking forward to translating the Italian.

JDH sympathises with Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer over the death of one of his relations of the Buckner family, who was in the military & known by reputation to the Hookers through a Captain Cochrane formerly of China. JDH was also sorry to hear about the illness of [Walter] Gardiner, his great niece's fiancée. The RBG Kew herbarium is running smoothly, several people are away on leave: [William Botting] Hemsley & [John Reader] Jackson, but [Otto] Stapf has returned. Herbarium visitors include Krantztin[?], who is working on Lindley's orchids, & [Arthur] Lister & Miss [Gulielma] Lister working on [Miles Joseph] Berkeley's myxomycetes & doing exquisite drawings. JDH reports that part 18 of the FLORA OF BRITISH INDIA has been published. He complains about the lack of palm specimens, which they should have received from [Odoardo] Beccari & which George King has now requested be sent to RBG Kew from the Calcutta herbarium. JDH is currently working on Pandanus & Typha, which he complains Rohrbach has made unintelligible. He wishes to encourage David Prain to work on Palms, Pandanus & Aroids & to revise William Roxburgh's Flora, irrespective of the good work he has already done on Pedicularis & other Himalayan genera. King is doing valuable work on Annonaceae, Aales & Nutmegs. JDH finds the idea of half Quaker Mrs Hanbury becoming a marchioness very funny. JDH sends his regards to the Balfours & wishes to report to them the state of various plants: Veronica, Goodyera, & JDH's Himalayan Rhododendrons which have suffered for being transplanted on the day of an early frost in 1891.

JDH has received a letter from Admiral Symonds at Torquay asking how he can procure a plant of Rhododendron griffithianum, i.e. aucklnadii. JDH suggests that RBG Kew could give him one in recognition of his support, particularly inducing the Admiralty to extend Gustav Mann's time in Africa. JDH is sorry to hear that Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer may loose Dewar, who saved some of the Pyrola uniflora JDH gave him. JDH's American Oaks & Maples [at The Camp] are currently looking very beautiful. JDH is going to Lady Smythe's at Marazion. A friend has shown JDH an inflorescence of Gunnera scabra from Guernsey weighing 68lbs, JDH thinks there is a slim chance Thiselton-Dyer may want it for the RBG Kew museum.

JDH explains why he considers Dr [James William Helenus] Trail a suitable candidate for fellowship of the Royal Society. It was JDH who recommended that Trail go on the expedition up the Amazon 12 years previously & Trail made the most of the opportunity for scientific purposes making excellent collections & observations, especially papers on the palms of the Amazon published in [Henry] Trimen's journal of botany in 1876 & work on Amazon ant-housing plants. He has also published further papers, catalogued in the Royal Society Compilations & is producing more. Trail is also a productive teacher of biological science & his students have often proved excellent members of expeditions. JDH intends to add his signature to Trail's paper of qualifications.

JDH writes to Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer [WTTD] giving his opinion of various publications by Alphonse de Candolle. JDH does not intend to write a notice of 'Alphonse de Candolle's [recent] work', as he has a very low opinion of it. JDH criticise de Candolle's descriptions & his systematic work. JDH lists those he considers superior contemporary systematists; Pourret, Saint-Hilaire, von Martius, Bentham, Endlicher, Gray & Engelmann. JDH has a higher opinion of de Candolle's geographical botany. He reviewed his GÉOGRAPHIE BOTANIQUE in the JOURNAL OF BOTANY, concluding that it was full of useful data but lacked philosophical views & was tainted by a belief in multiple creation of species & scepticism towards evolution, though this was before the 'Darwinian Epoch'. Darwin in fact had a high opinion of the work, & [Asa] Gray a modest one. JDH considers THE ORIGINE DES PLANTES CULTIVÉES an excellent book but not comprehensive, e.g. it does not address the cultivation of Amorphophallus campanulatus or Tacca, which is cultivated from Tahiti to Malaya. JDH calls THE HISTOIRE DES SCIENCES ET DES SAVANTS 'very good & instructive' & thinks its highlight's de Candolle's forte, which is as a statistician. He has not read de Candolle's biography of his father [Augustin Pyrame de Candolle] or his methodology of descriptive botany & was unimpressed by his INTRODUCTION TO BOTANY. He summarises that it is impossible to consider the work of de Candolle without appearing to deprecate him though his wealth & leisure have allowed him time to contribute much to botany. JDH suggests that [William Botting] Hemsley take on LOIS DE LA NOMENCLATURE BOTANIQUE. JDH mentions some Tibetan plants of interest & 'securing' George Massee. JDH is working on Indian Eriocaulons, which he thinks is the most minute flowers genus of Phenogams, & grasses. JDH thanks WTTD for some Rhododendrons. Balfour has sent JDH a list of New Zealand Veronicas which they have at Edinburgh [Botanic Garden].

JDH critiques the work of Alphonse de Candolle. His MONOGRAPHIAE PHANEROGAMARUM does not accord with JDH's revision of the Phanerogams. JDH recognises that he has worked hard at botany, though he is wealthy enough not to have needed to. However, he finds that de Candolle's treatment of plant distribution GÉOGRAPHIE BOTANIQUE RAISONNÉE shows a lack of deep understanding of the subject & is more a collection of useful data than an attempt to reach any conclusions. JDH asks if Alphonse de Candolle is dead. JDH has had no answer to his letter to Carriere[?]. [George] Bentham has completed work on the Australian Enocaulaceae & JDH is reviewing them to determine which ones are Indian species. JDH suggests that de Candolle's systematic work does not compare favourable with those of Asa Gray, Antoine Jusseau & George Bentham but if de Candolle is dead them JDH will take on de Candolle's systematic work.

JDH critiques the work of Alphonse de Candolle. His MONOGRAPHIAE PHANEROGAMARUM does not accord with JDH's revision of the Phanerogams. JDH recognises that he has worked hard at botany, though he is wealthy enough not to have needed to. However, he finds that de Candolle's treatment of plant distribution GÉOGRAPHIE BOTANIQUE RAISONNÉE shows a lack of deep understanding of the subject & is more a collection of useful data than an attempt to reach any conclusions. JDH asks if Alphonse de Candolle is dead. JDH has had no answer to his letter to Carriere[?]. [George] Bentham has completed work on the Australian Enocaulaceae & JDH is reviewing them to determine which ones are Indian species. JDH suggests that de Candolle's systematic work does not compare favourable with those of Asa Gray, Antoine Jusseau & George Bentham but if de Candolle is dead them JDH will take on de Candolle's systematic work.

In response to a 'hint' from Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer JDH discusses the merits of discontinuing the English description of species in the BOTAICAL MAGAZINE. He points out that whilst the Latin description are often cited, e.g in [Arthur Gerhard] Walpers' works, the English are not. The 'yarns' about the species attract interest but are labour intensive & those who do not include them such as [John Gilbert] Baker complete the descriptions much faster than JDH. JDH mentions he has written to [George] King. Also that he is enclosing a letter from [Isaac Bayley] Balfour [letter not present] to whom he wrote about the BOTANICAL MAGAZINE. In a post script JDH adds that he can no longer expect [Daniel] Morris to contribute the previously offered excursus on Erythroxylum coca for the BOTANICAL MAGAZINE & asks if there is any more recent information on it than in the Jan 1889 [KEW] BULLETIN.

JDH asks Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer [WTTD] to sign & forward a letter to Sir Henry Coleltt at 21 Cranley Gardens, London. JDH gives his opinion on Luthe's[?] book, he does not like its tone & thinks the facts need checking but found some of the matter illuminating on the subject of the early church. JDH is sure there would have been much more information on the subject in the library at Alexandria. JDH advises WTTD that [David] Prain may not be suitable replacement for [Daniel] Morris as he might not be able to tolerate the English weather. JDH speculates that WTTD might favour a candidate with a more practical Scottish education than someone from an English university. JDH advises WTTD to ignore Britten's 'snarls' & not to elevate them by complaining to the Treasury.

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No summary available.

JDH compliments Sir William Thiselton-Dyer on part 1 of the HAND-LIST [OF TREES AND SHRUBS GROWN IN ARBORETUM at RBG Kew]. His only criticism is that those that need to be grown under glass, in the Temperate House, should be marked. [Otto] Stapf has sent JDH [José Camilla] Lisboa's letter & grasses, which incl. 1 new species. JDH thinks the Bombay Government should be advised to delay Lisboas 'insane attempt' to publish a list of Bombay grasses until after the FLORA OF BRITISH INDIA volume 7 is out. JDH continues to struggle with Indian synonomy, for example Cynodon dactylon is mixed up with Paspalum sanguinale. In a post script JDH praises WTTD's 'notice of [Sir George] Watt & paper on the Royal Society. He comments on recent criticism of the Royal Society as a result of [Sir John] Evans & [Sir Michael] Foster attempting to raise the Society's public profile. JDH is particularly concerned about an article on money awards given with Society medals & wonders how [Herbert] Rix can respond. JDH is currently checking the names of Lisboa's Isachnes[?] & thinks all the species on Lsiboa's list should be checked at RBG Kew before the list is published.

JDH thanks Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer for sending him a letter from [Odoardo] Beccari, whom he is encouraged to hear will be publishing his work. JDH has been working on the difficult genus Poa [for the FLORA OF BRITISH INDIA], the best specimens he has studied are those collected by [John Firminger] Duthie. [George] King is sending JDH further specimens, including some from Burma, which JDH hopes he & [Otto] Stapf will work on in the spring, though he is not looking forward to tackling Andropognium [Andropogoneae?] again. JDH is also labouring over the classification of Andropogoneae with reference to the work of Hackel & [George] Bentham. JDH is staying indoors during the bad weather. JDH needs to see Harriet [Thiselton-Dyer née Hooker] about some illustrations for the BOTANICAL MAGAZINE.

JDH thanks William Turner Thiselton-Dyer for 'the Forsythia letters'. JDH writes that he will 'send Dr Mcnab's to Godfrey Wesgewood'. Informs WTTD that G. Lindley is father of [John] Lindley & is a nurseryman in Norwich, where J. Lindley was 'discovered' by JSH's father, William Jackson Hooker and introduced to Joseph Banks. JDH criticises the current parliament as ineffectual & mentions Bryer in particular. More plant specimens have arrived from George King. JDH has given up working on Poa until Otto Stapf has put the new India specimens in order & is working on Festuca & Bromus. He comments that the grasses in general have been 'laid in' & named very badly. JDH criticises William Munro's naming, except of Bambuseae & comments that judging from Gamble's monograph Munro had poor material to work with. He gives as an example the confusion between identifying Avenas & Bromi. He is confident that Stapf will do good work on the grasses in the RBG Kew herbarium. JDH is unable to accept Harriet [Thiselton-Dyer née Hooker's] invitation to come to Kew as JDH's gardener is sick adding to his already heavy workload.