TALBOT4614

Mount Edgcumbe ¹
Devonport.
16^th June 1875

My dear Henry

Many thanks for your letter.

I write in a hurry today, just to enclose a small specimen of the flowers of the Chamærops excelsa, the Hill Palm of China I believe.

There are 2 magnificent Specimens in square tubs, that live in the Orangerie in the winter & are put out in the Italian garden with the orange trees in Summer, & besides these, 2 others much younger, that are in the open ground in the English Garden, where they have lived several years. The latter are about 8 f^t high.

All four Palms are in splendid bloom this year – with 4 or 5 branches, dividing again into 3, & laden with these small yellow blossoms. They look very handsome. The Gardener is going to pack up this evening, several cuttings of the Abutilon – there is one a pure white – the others are a pale shade of mauve. All the trees, of which there are many, were raised from seed ab^t 7 years ago – from a single plant in the garden. –

Ernestine ² went to London today by the ½ p. 8 train – so as to be in time for the Queen’s ³ Ball tonight.

I go tomorrow to Cotehele, ⁴ where I have much to do.

Y^r aff^te Sister
Caroline

The Gardener tells me there is a large shrub of that Crimson Beaufortia,⁵ which has been out one winter & summer. I believe your cuttings will be sent this ev^g.