WCP3835

[1]¹

Broadstone, Wimborne.

Dec^r. 4th. 1903

Sir W. T. Thiselton-Dyer²

Director of Royal Gardens, Kew

Dear Sir William

I write to ask if you will be so good ^as to have my name & address ^{(as above)} put down in your address-book, & send me your annual lists of seeds &c. of Hardy Plants (& also of Greenhouse Plants if you issue one) as I am here beginning gardening again in my old age, and one of my chief interests in it is to raise as many new things as I can every year. I do not know [2] whether you saw my note in "The Garden",³ a month or more back, on the flowering with me of the Nymphaea gigantea from the tubers I received from N. S. W. in July or August, & of which I sent you half. This time it is undoubtedly the true species, and it is quite distinct from the other blue Nymphaeas I have seen, or seen figures of. It seems to be deciduous, but I hope will survive & become larger next year.

[3] I was greatly interested in hearing that you had the blue Puya flowering at Kew. Should you have seeds or seedlings of it, I should be greatly obliged for one as I have now the means of growing it.

Should you be in this neighbourhood during the summer I should be glad to see you as we have a very picturesque bit or ground here.

Believe me | yours very truly | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]