Murton is sending Hooker, by the P&O steamer 'Thibet', three wardian cases for which he is enclosing the shipping receipt. Being sent free of freight, there is no Bill of Lading. One case is filled with young mangosteen plants, one with durian, duko [duku?], litchi [lychee] et cetera and a plant of the 'horn plantain' or 'Pisang tanduk' that Mr Jamie told him Hooker wanted. It is a very large fruited kind that is of inferior flavour unless cooked. One case is from Mr Jamie filled with young plants of Siam [Thai] gamboge. The cases from the gardens were sent from RBG Kew to Major McNair. Murton intended to send a case of Quedah [Kedah] plants, but is very short of cases. He will try in the spring of next year. Just now he is the only European in the gardens, the curator having left for England on sick leave. Acting on a suggestion from Professor [Thiselton-]Dyer in a letter of 18 Feb last, Murton wrote to the Director of the gardens at Saigon [Ho Chi Minh City] regarding the 'Elephant' sugar cane and, at the same time, forwarded him a case of plants; there has been no reply as yet. Murton thanks Hooker for the seeds of the Siberian coffee, although none have yet germinated. The seeds Mr Smith sent from the herbaceous department last spring have succeeded. Mr Ford, the Superintendent of the gardens at Hong Kong, has been staying with Murton for a few days en route to Calcutta [Kolkata]. Murton would like a list of desiderata from RBG Kew, as he does not know what to send. He then lists his own desiderata, which includes: Brownea grandiceps, Clavija ornata, Napoleonaea imperialis, Anthurium crystallinum and Aphelandra fascinator. Page 1 of 3.