WCP6951

[1]

Parkstone, Dorset.

Sept^r 14th. 1899

My dear Mr. Deane

Many thanks to you & you friends for the roots of the large blue water-lily which arrived yesterday in very good order. Mr. Mitchell packed them very judiciously in damp cocoa-nut fibre, and most of them had started growing. The tuberous roots were small, I suppose seedlings, one to two inches long, and they had no rootlets growing from them. This is the only doubtful point, as similar tubers I had [2] from S. Africa of N[ymphaea] stellata and N. scutifolia mostly rotted away while those which had some fleshy rootlets grew well I have planted these all in separate pots & just submerged them in pairs in my warmest house about 75°-80°F.— and I hope they will grow. I sent some of them to Kew, as the species has never been mentioned as growing in this country, & no doubt they will succeed with them if possible. I will let you [3] know how they get on. N.scutifolia the finest African species has been flowering all through ^{July &} August & still sends up fresh buds. It is a very fine blue, and a must larger flower than N.stellata. I have it in a small outdoor tank formed by an iron bath surrounded by a stone wall & with a small paraffine [sic] lamp under it constantly which keeps the water about 70° & with the sun nearly 80°.

The Blandfordias do not grow much. The largest is only about 8 inches high. I fear I have not [4] got suitable soil for them & must repot them. Thanks for your promise of terrestrial orchids, but please only send those with rather large tubers, as the very small ones are most difficult to keep alive. I fancy slightly damp cocoa-nut fibre mixed with a little charcoal dust would be excellent to send the orchid tubers in, in a tin box, not ^quite airtight.

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

Henry Deane Esq.