TALBOT9284

Lacock Abbey, Chippenham
Dec^r 5. 1867

My dear Sir

Pray accept a few specimens of photographs of flowers, coloured by hand. They are made by artists who live at Berlin & Prague. I think you will agree with me that this improvement is likely to be very useful. It will enable a Tourist to make pictures on the spot of any plants he may meet with. And a Record might be kept in this way of all plants that flower in your Botanic Garden ¹ or at Kew ² &c &c

I have been travelling on the Continent all the summer and I fear I shall not be able to visit Edinburgh this winter. Has the Vellozia ³ which I sent you yet flowered with you? And has anything further been done by yourself or any other botanists about settling its name? I am still of opinion that it forms a separate genus and I could quote to you many examples of genera established by modern Botanists which are distinguished by much smaller differences from their nearest allies –

I remain Dear Sir Yours very Truly
H. F. Talbot

[in Balfour’s hand:] Spricea venacta[?] Spricea betulæfolia
Stanhopea integri[illegible]

<at foot of page in WHFT’s hand> Professor Balfour
Edinburgh

[on blank side of sheet, in Balfour’s hand:]
H Fox Talbot