Description

They have had such hot weather that Thwaites has been quite out of working order. Since he last wrote, he has been engaged mostly in putting the collection of exotic dried specimens into order and has done next to nothing on the ENUMERATIO [PLANTARUM ZEYLANIAE]. He has just had specimens sent from Trincomalie [Trincomalee] of the ripe fruit of Hemigyrosa canescens and he gives a Latin description of it. Along with the seeds of Musa textilis now sent, Hooker will find a packet of some seeds of Dalbergia mooniana just received from Ferguson. He is very disappointed that the plant of Cinchona calisaya did not survive the voyage. He shall be interested to learn whether similar plants progress well with Hooker. Thwaites wonders if Hooker might send him a small proportion of every lot of seeds he receives from Spruce of the different kinds of Cinchona, as this would give them a better chance of introducing the plant in Ceylon [Sri Lanka] than risking tender seedlings. Thwaites has just heard from Thomson that he thinks of going for a year next March. Thwaites shall miss his correspondence very much but Thomson's health is not what they could wish it and he thinks his return is for the best. He almost wishes he were returning to England as well, but at the same time he does not want to leave his post until he is incapable of performing his duties there. Pages 1 and 4 of 4.

Description

They have had such hot weather that Thwaites has been quite out of working order. Since he last wrote, he has been engaged mostly in putting the collection of exotic dried specimens into order and has done next to nothing on the ENUMERATIO [PLANTARUM ZEYLANIAE]. He has just had specimens sent from Trincomalie [Trincomalee] of the ripe fruit of Hemigyrosa canescens and he gives a Latin description of it. Along with the seeds of Musa textilis now sent, Hooker will find a packet of some seeds of Dalbergia mooniana just received from Ferguson. He is very disappointed that the plant of Cinchona calisaya did not survive the voyage. He shall be interested to learn whether similar plants progress well with Hooker. Thwaites wonders if Hooker might send him a small proportion of every lot of seeds he receives from Spruce of the different kinds of Cinchona, as this would give them a better chance of introducing the plant in Ceylon [Sri Lanka] than risking tender seedlings. Thwaites has just heard from Thomson that he thinks of going for a year next March. Thwaites shall miss his correspondence very much but Thomson's health is not what they could wish it and he thinks his return is for the best. He almost wishes he were returning to England as well, but at the same time he does not want to leave his post until he is incapable of performing his duties there. Pages 1 and 4 of 4.