Trimen was interested to read, in Thiselton-Dyer's letter, about the changes in the botanical chairs. Trimen has heard from Bower who informed Trimen that Potter of Saint Peters, Cambridge is coming out to Ceylon [Sri Lanka] as the first occupant of the proposed laboratory. Trimen discusses the fudning for the laboratory and the glassware and furniture that will need to be purchased for it. Trimen has asked Bower to get the right things in consultation with Ward. Trimen asks about 'Potter's line': all he knows is that he used to be Babington's assistant. Trimen expects Ridley to arrive at Colombo next week on the 'Britannia' and will take him to all the branch gardens. Trimen's sister will arrive in November. Trimen has sent Thiselton-Dyer plants of Dendrobium maccarthiae and hopes they do better than the previous batches. Trimen has read, in NATURE, Thiselton-Dyer's address to Section D at Bath on Darwinism and other theories. Trimen makes some observations on Dipterocarpaceae, specifically a tree at Doluwe Kande [Dolekanda?], previously thought to be Shorea brevipetiolaris, which is actually a Balanocarpus that Trimen is calling B. zeylanicus. Trimen thinks two of Curtis's Penang Dipterocarpaceae seem to belong to the same genus. Trimen has received some Cherimoya [Annona cherimola] fruits from an estate in Dimbula, grown from trees originally provided by Hakgala. Trimen received a box from RBG Kew, via the far east, containing figs, other Monochlamydeae and Malayan things. Nock is expected to return in November and Trimen is glad, as it will allow Clark to come back to Peradeniya. Trimen is currently suffering from an eczematous eruption on the inside of the thighs. Trimen has a letter from Morris, dated 11 Sep, which he will reply to with specimens of Pachyrhizus. The Java species of this is in flower at Peradeniya and is the same species as the Trinidad 'Yam Bean'. Trimen adds that he is drying a big Ravenala for Thiselton-Dyer, but it is hard to dry anything except in the dry months of February and March. Pages 1 and 4 of 8.