In response to a request, JH provides such details as he can about atmospheric and ground temperatures at the Cape; JH goes on to describe how his flowers brought from the Cape are doing.

Asks about partially white leaves and about droplets of water forming at the tops of leaves. Has been studying the effects of spectral rays on vegetable colorings.

CD sends seeds found by W. Kemp of Galashiels with explanation and request that they be planted and a report sent to him, so that Kemp may publish his discovery if results are interesting.

Thanks for the deodar seeds sent; accepts JL's offer of some young deodar plants. Needs instructions on planting these. Does JL have a copy of JH's 'On the Action of the Rays of the Solar Spectrum on Vegetable Colours, and on Some New Photographic Processes'?

[Responding to JL's 1844-12-30], declines JL's request that JH write a series of articles on meteorology, because of JH's need to work on the manuscript for JH's Cape Results. Hopes eventually to write on meteorology.

CD sends a copy [of South America] to Gardeners’ Chronicle and refers to a passage on Patagonian salt; asks for backing and specific information supplementing his suggestion that an added chloride would increase the salt’s preserving power.

Thanks JL for identifying Catasetum saccatum.

Writes of his interest ("more than almost anything in my life") in orchids, but fears he is rash to publish.

Sends thanks for an informative letter;

would be grateful for any orchids; names some he would particularly like.

CD is sending an orchid flower; asks JL to identify it.

Also asks if JL can spare a dried flower of another orchid (name forgotten) [which CD describes] so that he can try to trace its ducts or spiral vessels.

CD sends thanks for many valuable dried specimens [of orchids]. Has been promised Catasetum and some Dendrobium by Mr Rucker; has written also to Lady Dorothy [Nevill].

Lady Dorothy [Nevill] has written very obligingly and sent a lot of orchids.

Thanks JL for a flower of Bolbophyllum, a genus that puzzles him.

Recent work has convinced him a number of orchids are male. Points out that JL [in The vegetable kingdom (1846), pp. 177–8] "accidentally misquoted" R. H. Schomburgk on this point.

Delayed thanking JL for two notes until he heard from Hooker about Acropera luteola; had no idea A. luteola was not a well-known name.

Cites his reasons for identifying A. loddigesii as male; hopes for a Gongora flower from Hooker which, JL suggested, may be the female.

Thanks JL for information about Acropera luteola.

Also thanks for the Gongora; cannot avoid the impression it is male.

Thanks JL for review [of Orchids, Gard. Chron. (1862): 789–90, 863]; CD published almost by accident, having been led on in part by encouragement from JL.