Kew Dec 2 /65
Dear Mueller
Today's "Times" paper announces the death of Augustus Oldfield, no particulars beyond that he leaves a wife & 2 children.2
Can you tell me any-thing of his history. I got much interested here — he was always gloomy & odd, & when pressed about his nervous condition always darkly hinted at some dreadful scene, the witnessing of which shattered his nerves. We liked what little we saw of him; — he was quiet, inobtrusive, singularly modest & extremely well informed; his large and most important Herbarium he had given to me long ago, and would take no price in reward, wished no public notice of it, & only hoped it might be useful. I could not help feeling immensely interested in him. I understood that he lived with or near a sister or brother here in England.
I regret to find that we have lost Ficus Sycamorus. I shall proceed to repair the loss & send it you, as soon as possible.
I have plenty always to say to you but no time to say it now. I have no assistance of any kind yet & the arrears of my father & self, & current duties of the Garden press very heavily upon me indeed. — Of course for Science I have no time at all
I am anxious, as I think I told you to try your terrestrial Orchids;3 — you sending the tubers in small boxes, in the dormant season, wrapped in paper, so as to arrive here in our spring if possible.
Colenso sent me by post a box of Convolvulus Chrysorhizus tubers, every one in superb order — like new dug potatos! not a trace of decay or mould.
Bulbs of all kinds would be equally acceptable.
We are largely increasing our succulents having a capital collection of these
Ever most sincerely your
Jos D Hooker
Convolvulus Chrysorhizus
Ficus Sycamorus
Please cite as “FVM-65-12-02a,” in Correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller, edited by R.W. Home, Thomas A. Darragh, A.M. Lucas, Sara Maroske, D.M. Sinkora†, J.H. Voigt† and Monika Wells accessed on 29 March 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/vonmueller/letters/65-12-02a