WCP3720

[1]¹

Parkstone, Dorset.

Feb.[ruary] 8th. 1894

My dear Mitten²

I send you a few seeds which I think may interest you to try. Chanesthes [fuschiones?]³ is a fine shrub ^{violet flowers} allied to Cestrum⁴, & easy to grow if raised. Escallonia organensis⁵ is not from Brazil, but I believe from the Organ Mountains of New Mexico, & said to be fine. Medicago arborea⁶ is I think the orange col.[oured]⁷ sp.[ecies] we saw at Weymouth & wh.[ich] I have never seen since. Saundersonia⁸, from Natal I failed to raise last year & am trying again; I send you the remainder. I also send a little [2] of Dianthus callizonus⁹, which I think you said you wanted.

I hear we are to have a visit from Rose who I am sorry to hear is still poorly & hope the change may do her good. To-day was a lovely sunny day & our snowdrops¹⁰ on the bank look brilliant & crocuses¹¹, scillas¹², & chionodoxas¹³ &c. are all coming out fast. I have a Dandrobium nobile¹⁴ in flower, a very good form and a huge Hamanthus natalensis [sic]^{15 opening} with a flower stem 2 ft. long and about 2 in. thick. I have just been having my greenhouse stove repaired. It had been set badly & the top feeder had burnt out.

[3] The early Saxifrages¹⁶ too are coming on, & S. burseriana major¹⁷ is very fine. The terrestrial orchid¹⁸ from Australia & Cape are most difficult. Some were growing well a month ago, but I kept them a little too damp & they rotted off. Others are doing well so far, & I suppose I shall learn the happy medium in time. The want of sun in the winter to keep them growing healthily is the difficulty. I hope you are quite well & are enjoying the promise of Spring. I suppose you saw my obituary notice of Spruce¹⁹ in last week's "Nature"²⁰. [4] Mr. Slater²¹ is going to send me his journals &c. to see if we can arrange for their publication.

With best wishes | Believe me | Yours very sincerely | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]

W. Mitten Esq.