TALBOT6396

Abb. ¹
9 March 1851

My dear Henry

I send you what I have got. I am joyous to have puzzled you with Epimedium Colchicum – the prettiest & earliest of its genus – betraying so clearly its affinities. I got it abroad.

We are quite perfumed with Narcissi & Hyacinths indoors & out – Is yours a bulbous soil? You have I suppose the fair Circassian snowdrop otherwise Galanthus plicatus. A pretty shrub has flowered today, Diosma umbellata it likes bog. I shall try the < Comeas?. ² Four Grevillias have lived well through the winter. Lomatia Silaifolia I tried but it never took well to the soil & so died. L. longifolia I saw against a wall in the Liverpool Botanic Garden. Few Cape species do out.

Three sp. of Edwardsia are in flower or nearly, two more hardy ones have not yet flowered. I expect little variety.

I found last two years ago in the woods at Minterne ³ the double pseudonarcissus quite different from the garden double which is evidently the double of luteus or major, & quite agreeing with its natural single wild daffodil. poor D^r Herbert ⁴ would have rejoiced in this.

I am fond of shrubby composites. I have Swammerdammia antennaria & nummularifolia – Baccharis ilicifolia & halimi ditto, Eurybia ilicifolia & furfuracea – Cassinia rosmarinifolia Olearia dentata – Aster spinulosus & fruticulosus – & argophyllus – & I want Ozothamnus & Mutisia. all hardy.

Try the coprosmas – four live out here – two very nice evergreens. There has not been frost to kill a mignonette or annuals this season.

Can you help me to any Australia ferns – one or two seem hardy. I have succeeded in making Lycopodium Helacticum grow at last. I knew it ought & I would not be beat.

The Rhodods. are coming beautifully dark red & rose colour. There seems to be no early white. The tree heaths <–> barba jovis – Convol. cneorum & an early Vaccinium are in fine flower. as is Ribes Menziesii.

Our great Mesembryanthemums – rubrocinctum & edule are shewing abundance of flower – some of the latter are already blown. As for Primula Palinuri we could make cowslip balls of them this year – Morina longifolia flowered very prettily this autumn. Have you any fancy for Colchicums – I have a variety.

Y^rs Aff
W F S

I wonder having so many green houses besides a conservatory for beauty your botany does not take a special direction & that you do not cultivate a family – such as the curious orchideæ – ferns – aroideæ – bulbs – euphorbiaceæ – cacti – or other succulents, or any neglected family besides.

[envelope:]
Henry F. Talbot Esq
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham