Description

Barber was pleased to read Thiselton-Dyer's article on Trichosphaeria in the ANNALS and believes it 'paves the way for a final understanding'. Barber may write a short paper on the topic to suggest solutions to certain points. He believes that Colletotrichum has nothing to do with Trichosphaeria and asserts that no-one has been able to undertake as many field observations of the fungi as he has. Barber discusses the difficulties he is facing in his department as his assistant has left. He feels as though his assistant treated him 'rather unfairly' and he now has an increased workload as, although he has another two assistants, they are both new. Barber is also having difficulties with other issues, in particular the experiments that are being undertaken in the plains. He feels he should be given a voice in the undertaking of the experiments, as questions are constantly referred to him without any proper explanation. He feels strongly that a permanent Botanical Department is needed in the Madras Presidency. The experiments are undertaken by the Agricultural Department and Barber believes he should be given a role as an official consultant to the department. Barber is also having difficulties with a colleague, Proudlock, who he believes is trying to 'turn me out of my present office'. Barber has discussed matters with Mr Winterbotham who agreed that Barber should not be 'saddled' with the garden's administration, but he would like some involvement with the scientific work. Barber has been in contact with Willis who was interested in Podostemonaceae; Barber helped him with his notes and specimens from his South Canara expedition. He informs Thiselton-Dyer of his next tour, which will involve a month on a houseboat investigating sugar cane disease in the Godavari district and then to Calcutta [Kolkata] for a fortnight. In a postscript Barber notes that he has made enquiries about 'Palma rosa', for Dr van Rensburgh[?] of Java. Page 1 of 4.