WCP212

[1]

Parkstone, Dorset.

May 19^th. 1890

My dear Violet

We found the Gentians all right as you saw, but had to go a long way for them. They were lovely when open in the sunshine. The little bird-eye Primrose (Primula farinosa) was much more abundant, — almost as common as primroses at Godalming, & there were also lots of wood-anemones all over the woods fields & hills, beautiful purple & yellow violets, splendid orchises & quantities of cowslips.

It is no good sending you young plants as they want so much attention to make them [2] recover ^{and grow}. You had better buy a plant or two in Croydon market in pots. You will get some I dare say at 3^d. or 4^d. each ^{or roots of common things at 1d./each}. The quickest seed to come up is Virginian Stock. If sown in a sunny place & carefully thinned & weeded as they grow they will flower in about ^{8 or} 10 weeks after sowing, but even that, the quickest possible, will be not much use to you. You must get wild flowers or a pot plant or two. If you dig up carefully a buttercup [3] or campion, & plant it shading from the sun for a few days, they will grow & flower soon. Even dandelions would be useful & daisies.

When you have Aunt Bessie’s¹ "explanation" let me know, and we will then see what we shall see.

I am going to the Vaccination Commission² on Wednesday & begin Exam. papers³ on Thursday. Willie⁴ is going to Hurst from Saturday to Tuesday. We had not heard about Mrs. Benson.

Your affectionate Papa | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]