TALBOT3611

Abbotsbury ¹
2 Nov^r 1837

My dear Henry

I hope you will come here with Horatia ² & take your view of our garden which is usually a winter one I think – you may then chuse a few plants to take back with you, as the time for decimating the seedbeds approaches.

Not having been here since May I find a great deal new, & some deficiencies after the winter & spring. I find come up some seeds I did not expect, Pistacia vera, Cytisus ramosissimus, Mattia umbellata, Ebenus Cretica, Ilex opaca, Pinus excelsa, Negundium Americanum, Cassia nictitans, Schinus molle, Celastrus scandens, &c Among the plants I find three Salvia leucanthas going to flower beautifully for the first time I believe in England, this comes of putting them out. Also Bidens procera & longifolia, Ruta albiflora (very pretty) Crocus longiflorus, sativus & Thomasii, Pelargonium triste, Colchicum montanum var cupani – Convolvulus Italicus & Cantabrica, Delphinium intermedium, Campanula muralis, Silphium laciniatum & I find one or two German plants I had despaired of growing well, viz. Rosa aciphylla, Spiræa decumbens Primula rhætica, & elatior vera, & 3 sorts of dwarf almond from Vienna. Some ferns too are doing well out of doors but they must take their chance for the winter – Onoclea sensibilis, Davallia Canariensis, Adiantum pedatum, Woodwardsia radiscans &c –

We have had tremendous gales, that of yesterday I think surpassed anything I ever saw – I hope they are over. Several trees are broken in Stavordale Wood.

I sent M^{lles 3} letter on to Paris – I wished for a little more account of you all. How is H. Shelb^{ne 4} he did not strike us in town as looking so ill as he was said to be. I suppose all Bowood ⁵ will be going to town before long – I stay here till the beginning middle of the month –

Y^r Aff
W F S

Dorchester November three 1837 W F Strangways
Henry F. Talbot Esq
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham