WCP3857

Old Orchard,

Broadstone,

Wimborne.

Feb[ruary] 14th, 1911

Lt. Col. David Prain, F.R.S. etc. etc.

Dear Sir¹

Having recently added a small piece of boggy wood to my garden, and there by obtained favourable conditions, — (for the first time in my 40 years of gardening experience) — for growing many alpine and bog plants, which I have hitherto failed in doing successfully, I venture to ask if, from the great stores of Kew, you can send me some of your duplicates to form a nucleus, to be added [2] to by seed raising, & from other sources.

I now wish especially to grow as many as possible of my old favourites of the genus Primula, — especially such as the Alpine species, and, [1 word illeg.] particularly the fine Himalayan and Chinese species which are now so numerous. I think I have an ideal spot for them, and may hope to enjoy seeing them flower in ^during the very limited remainder of my life. Any other of the less common dwarf shade and moisture — [3] loving herbaceous plants would be acceptable.

You may remember that in 1908 I sent you seed of the Tasmanian Blandfordia mariquiat[Word ending illeg]² and Telopea truncata. I find both grow very slowly ; but of the former I have nice little plants with about a dozen leaves 7 or 8 inches longer, which I fear will not flower for several years more. Should your grower have been more successful, I should be obliged for one likely to flower sooner.

Yours very faithfully | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]

³