WCP1476

[1]

To Clement Reid, Esq.

Parkstone,

Dorset.

July 3rd. 1902

My dear Clement Reid

I was glad to hear from you again. Thanks for the abstracts about the "Hanging Valleys". They are however too brief to be of any value. I should like to read the full papers when publlished. There is a point on which I wish to consult you. You know my theory of seed migration, through the air, as a means of explaining the Arctic & N. Temperate floras in the Southern Hemisphere, as fully discussed in "Island Life". I want much to have an actual seed found that has travelled some long distance, — but nobody looks for them, & then they say there is "no evidence"! Now the great dust fall of about a year ago in South & Middle Europe, said to be from the Sahara, would probably have brought seeds with it. There were tons of this dust. Do you know of any one who examined it for seeds — not small samples, but many pounds of it, from many localities. The physicists and chemists usually I believe get rid of the "organic matter" first by burning — & deal only with the inorganic. I hear the was very local in its fall. Did you have any of it, or did you hear of any one who collected large quantities of it.

Have you Geolog[ical]. Survey work in Cornwall or have you retired? I am, you perhaps know, building a house at Broadstone on a very pretty bit of land with fin wood &c. & good views. I have three acres, & wish you could come see it. We hope to move here at Michaelmas.

With rememberance to Mrs. Reid | Believe me | Yours very truly

Alfred R. Wallace.

[1]

To Clement Reid, Esq.

Parkstone, Dorset.

July 3rd. 1902

My dear Clement Reid

I was glad to hear from you again. Thanks for the abstracts about the "Hanging Valleys". They are however too brief to be of any value. I should like to read the full papers when published. There is a point on which I wish to consult you. You know my theory of seed migration, through the air, as a means of explaining the Arctic & N. Temperate floras in the Southern Hemisphere, as fully discussed in "Island Life". I want much to have an actual seed found that has travelled some long distances, — but nobody looks for them, & then they say that there is "no evidence"! Now the great dust fall about a year ago in South & Middle Europe, said to be from the Sahara, would probably have brought seeds with it. There were tons of this dust. Do you know of any one who examined it for seeds — not small samples, but many pounds of it, from many localities. The physicists & chemists usually I believe get rid of the "organic matter" first by burning — & deal only with the inorganic. I hear the dust was very local in its fall. Did you have any of it, or did you hear of any one who collected large quantities of it.

Have you Geolog[ical]. Survey work in Cornwall or have you retired? I am, you perhaps know, building a house at Broadstone on a very pretty bit of land with a fine wood &c. & good views. I have three acres, & wish you could come see it. We hope to move from here at Michaelmas.

With remembrances to Mrs. Reid, | Believe me | Yours very truly

Alfred R. Wallace.