JDH has just written an obituary for [Brian Houghton] Hodgson & will now write one for Ferdinand] von Mueller. Writing these Society obituaries is becoming too much work for JDH. JDH has been corresponding regarding [Joseph] Banks. Mr Ings[?] has sent him letters written by [Daniel] Solander, Cunningham, & [William?] Anderson which will be donated to the RBG Kew herbarium. JDH is pleased that Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer will take over the finances for the Royal Society, not Britten. As a trial for work on the Ceylon [Sri Lanka] flora JDH has been looking at the genera Carex & Fimbristylis with reference to work by [George] Clarke & [Geroge] Bentham. He thinks it would take him 2 years & 2 volumes to complete the flora following [Henry] Trimen's style, & the Government will need to subsidise it. JDH has heard that [George] King is going to request another year [as Superintendent of the Calcutta Botanic Garden and Cinchona cultivation in Bengal].

JDH writes that he is enclosing Bambuseae yarn for Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer [enclosure not present]. Mentions a wild type of Primula sinensis, he thinks it may be difficult to get this species name upheld as [João de] Loureiro formerly named a species 'sinensis'. JDH complains about the quality of [George] Lawson's work for the FLORA OF BRITISH INDIA, he particularly mentions his descriptions of Leea & Vitis. JDH remarks that Lawson's work agrees with [Henry] Trimen's regarding Ceylon [Sri Lanka] species but this does not carry much weight with JDH. Also JDH's Orchideae for the flora need revising as their have been so many additions from [George] King & [Henry Nicholas] Ridley. JDH is writing to ask King what it would cost to send copies of all the later CAlcuatta Botanic Gardens orchids to RBG Kew & to suggest King publish them in a volume of the ANNALS [OF BOTANY].

No summary available.

No summary available.