From Charles Darwin   8 December 1857

Down Bromley Kent

December 8th [1857]¹

Dear Sir

Sir William & Dr. Hooker have told me that I might use their names as an introduction to you. I do not know whether my name is known to you; but I have so often heard of interesting Botanical facts of your discovery, from Dr Hooker, that I feel as if I had been introduced to you.² I am very anxious for a piece of information which possibly you may be able to give me. It is whether very many British or north-European perennial plants can withstand, living and seeding under the climate of S. Australia. —I presuppose that the plants are kept in a well weeded garden, free from the intrusion of native vegetation. They might be supposed to be watered in very dry weather; my point being whether they would withstand heat, & perfect their seeds. I presume all S. European plants would succeed well; but I want to know whether the greater number of British or still more north-ranging plants could survive & seed. — If you would answer me this question even approximately, & would take the trouble to write to me I shd be very much obliged. — I believe there a good many British naturalized plants in S. Australia; (Have you ever enumerated them?) & this of course answers my questions most fully as far as they are concerned, even under conditions not the most favourable, as they have to struggle with the native vegetation. —

With apologies for troubling you, & with much respect, I beg leave to remain

Dear Sir,

Yours very faithfully

C. Darwin.³