Letter and/or further information available at http://jdh.aetopia.net/p/jdh?q=jhc29.
Please cite as “JHC29,” in Ɛpsilon: The Joseph Dalton Hooker Collection accessed on
Miss Frances Harriet Henslow [FHH]’s letter of 24 Mar has arrived. JDH thanks John Stevens Henslow [JSH] for note received through his mother. Yesterday collected monstrous ear of Thibet [Tibet] barley. Published his thoughts on this subject in the FLORA ANTARTICA; considers the awn to be the lamina of the leaf. Considers geographical distribution of the Cerealia very interesting & is collecting many notes. Discusses observations of crops grown in Sikkim, Bootan [Bhutan], North West Himalaya, Menchoona & Jungle Mehals in the West of Bengal & altitude the crops are grown at. Plants cultivated incl. wheat, barley, peas, orange, beans, buckwheat, sugar came, castor oil, tobacco, mango, jack, radishes, rice, peach, almond, turnip, bamboo, egg-fruited Solanum which make the Brinjals of India,. Is trying to obtain info on crops from Llamas en route to China. A variety of Plantain grows wild among the Rajmahal Hills, has sent collector for specimens from Bhangulpore [Bhagulpur]. Wishes JSH would publish Flora of Cibaria. Describes his day which included a visit to treat Brian Houghton Hodgson Hodgson [BHH], who has been ill. BHH was questioning a man in Thibetan [Tibetan] about geography of Central Asia. Called on Archibald Campbell [AC] to report his return from Nepaul [Nepal] frontiers. Men sent beyond the snows for plants returned, they collected poor, early spring specimens of: Pinus webbiana, three Rhododendrons, Primrose, Yam, Rhubarb, Aconite. Letters from FHH, Falconer, Lord Dalhousie, & Postmasters. Coolies & servants arrived with results of past expedition asking for payment & gifts or 'backsheesh'. Discusses medical work: table-servant, Bengali collectors who took him to Tonglo [Tonglu] & a favourite Lepcha servant called Jippoo are all sick. JDH & Portuguese factotum must do the work of drying plants themselves. Society is wretched but JDH likes the hardworking Lepchas who carry his supplies without complaint, they like him to, or else they would run away.
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