From G. C. Oxenden   1 August 1864

Dear Sir

When I first found “Epipactis palustris”, in the Bogs wherein I shoot Snipes, there were but very few of them—

—These I carefully protected—& this year I have them in the greatest abundance— What effect the present dearth of Water & Grass may produce, I cannot yet tell— the Bucolic Mind is awfully avaricious—

—When they were in perfect splendour, I spent two days with them—& did not detect a single Moth-Visit to any one of the flowers—¹ I was not able to give up the Nights also—

—I could easily give you two or three good Plants—but even then the result w^d. be incomplete—inasmuch as, on the Bromley Hill-Side, the Especial Marsh Insect which waits upon this Epipactis w^d. probably be wanting—

—In one very long day this Summer, I found about 400 plants of—Arachnites & Apifera—in flower— it was a fine sight—²

—Moreover, hardly a human Being all day— The Plants were in “Constellations”—seldom single—

—Belgium is especially rich in Orchids—having all those which we possess in England—& two or three which we do not possess— I am glad to say, Belgium holds “Orchis Hircina”—³

—In vast Areas of France, I find but little—

—I think I mentioned to you that “Epipactis grandiflora” is very abundantly haunted by Insects—⁴

With most kind regards | G. Chichester Oxenden

P.S.⁵ | In regard to our Dog-hole of an Earth, my own Conviction is that the great Law of Nature is “Graduality” & not “Suddenism”, & that the Cataclysms which have disturbed our Crust are but the Exceptions which prove the Rule itself—