WCP1789

[1]

Old Orchard,

Broadstone,

Wimborne.

Oct[obe]^r. 9th.1909

My dear Sir

I am very much obliged to you for the further information you have sent me as to the Flora of Italy, which is very interesting to one.

D^r. Lauterbach’s¹ letter about the New Guinea flora is also very valuable, as I suppose he is well acquainted with all that has been collected up to the present time. Judging by its immense riches in Birds and [2] Insects I have little doubt that his estimate of a total of 10,000 Phanerograms will, some day, be fully justified.

A friend has translated his letter for me,² so I return you the original.

Yours very truly | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]

P.S.

Susa³ seems to have a very rich flora.— Only Temperate Sikkim with still loftier mountains may surpass it in the Temperate zone. Even the Cape Peninsula often quoted as the richest known, barely equals it. It is truly amazing that it sh[oul]^d. have more sp[ecies]. than Sicily and more than half that of all Italy!

A.R.W. [signature]