TALBOT228

Melbury ¹
2 Jan

My dear Henry

This season has been very favorable to Abb^{y 2} – where I was for 3 days last week – it is very good thing to have sufficient warmth to keep things growing as I think they are more hurt by damp when dormant, tho to be sure they suffer less from cold. Do you think there is any minute quantity of heat evolved by the circulation of plants? Something of that seems necessary to account for their turning the cold as it were on their surface, in moderate frosts.

We hope to hear a better account of you all from Harriet ³ – Bella ⁴ is here she does not know much about the movements of her part of the family. The Nicholls ⁵ come the end of the week I believe.

I wish I had thought of it before, I would have asked a plant of Orobus variegatus to be sent by Harriet – however it will do any time. Your Euphorbia myrsinites seems just the same as mine – did it come from your old stump of wooden rock work?

Crocus Imperati is out at Abb^y & a great many Mesembs – some of which are in flower throughout the year – also Maurandia & Dolichos.

Also a german Hellebore very like viridis – a various spring flower. Have you Cheiranthus mutabilis it is now & almost constantly in flower with Coronilla glauca in profusion –

I have just rec^d a letter from Persia ⁶ telling me I am to have a piece of their manna,⁷ different from that of Italy, Egypt, & Kurdistan, which are from the Ash, Tamarisk, & Oak, & produced on some tree not specified – it may be Hedysarum Alkagi – & besides seeds of three persian roses – they are however not yet come.

I hope Horatia ⁸ is well – & that Louisa ⁹ is at Bowood ¹⁰ at last – I stay here till 16^th

Y^r Affte
W F S