WCP2951

[1]¹

BRITISH MUSEUM (NATURAL HISTORY)

CROMWELL ROAD,

LONDON: S.W.

June 23rd 1909.

Dr A. R. Wallace.

Dear Sir,

I am sorry not to have replied to your letter² before. I have been so busy moving house — a double move, partly preparing for our own move tomorrow, partly clearing the house of a deceased relative of my wife - that I have been unable to consult the Botanical Library. [2] The flora of Germany the number of species recorded by Garcke³ in his Flora von Deutschland (14th Edition, Berlin, 1882) is 2239 phanerogams (ferns deducted). In his 20th Edition (1908) he gives 2547 spp. of phanerogams.

The Flora of France Gillet et Magne in the Novuelle Flora Francaise (Paris 1879) contains 5675 species and varieties of phanerogams (? & ferns).

And H. Coste⁴ in his [3] Flore descriptive et illustrée de le France , De la Corse et des contrées limitrophes (Paris. 3. vols. 1909 1900-1906) gives 4263 species.

The difference between the floras of Germany & France is perplexing. Possibly France gains enormously by its Mediterranean coast, the Pyrenees Pyrenees, and alps of the Dauphine & Savoy.

Yours very truly, | A. Gepp⁵ [signature]

We are moving tomorrow to n^o 7 Cumberland Road, Kew, being driven out of our present home by the yearly pestilence of flies from the market garden manure.

[4] Gepp⁶