WCP4490

[1]

Frith Hill, Godalming.

March 2^nd. 1886

My dear Meldola

Perhaps you can supply me with some information I am very much in want of.

In Nature vol. XVIII p.199 is an account of volcanic ash from an eruption in Iceland being carried 900 miles. What I want to know is the weight and sp[ecific] gr[avity] of the largest particles carried these distances, or any considerable known distance. Perhaps you know someone who possesses samples of this, or the Krakatoa ash, collected at great distances from the source, who could give the information, — or perhaps you could get some samples of ash for me, [2] and determine in your laboratory the weight and sp[ecific] gr[avity] of the large particles. This is very important for settlement of question of dispersal of seeds by wind currents, which most botanists dispute (as regard[s] great distances) for want of direct evidence. I have engaged to give eight lectures in Boston in Nov[ember] next as a beginning, so now I am in for it! What awful weather we have been having but I suppose it must soon have an end.

Yours very truly| Alfred R. Wallace [signature]