Description

Johnson thanks Hooker for the letter and catalogues. He has packed up what plants he has and sent them on to Hooker on the 'Aphrogenia', care of Captain Reid. He only has a few bundles of plants: at various times he has sent all his stock to Dr Wight or to the Dublin University, his Alma Mater. Recently, he has also been supplying specimens of Travancore plants to a museum at Trivandrum. Johnson has numbered a bundle of ferns sent to Hooker and asks if he can send him the names. He is also sending a bottle of Odal oil, sometimes misspelt 'Adul' oil, which is used to treat rheumatism. It is made from the seed of Sarcostigma kleinii, which Johnson has included specimens of. He indicates there may have been a mistake in the REPORT OF THE MADRAS EXHIBITION in which Johnson was given 'honourable mention' for having identified the 'Poovana oil' as coming from S. kleinii, while Odal oil was said to be still unknown. In fact it was the Odal oil that Johnson discovered. He is also enclosing another specimen, Ailanthus malabarica and bits of the bark also, which has been exhibited as incense previously in Madras. Unfortunately Johnson has no specimens of the incense to send. He is unable to send any rare plants, as his district does not extend into the mountains. He would like to send Hooker fruits and flowers, but unfortunately has no bottles to send them in. Johnson ends by telling Hooker he is not a botanist, simply a collector. Pages 1 and 4 of 4.

Description

Johnson thanks Hooker for the letter and catalogues. He has packed up what plants he has and sent them on to Hooker on the 'Aphrogenia', care of Captain Reid. He only has a few bundles of plants: at various times he has sent all his stock to Dr Wight or to the Dublin University, his Alma Mater. Recently, he has also been supplying specimens of Travancore plants to a museum at Trivandrum. Johnson has numbered a bundle of ferns sent to Hooker and asks if he can send him the names. He is also sending a bottle of Odal oil, sometimes misspelt 'Adul' oil, which is used to treat rheumatism. It is made from the seed of Sarcostigma kleinii, which Johnson has included specimens of. He indicates there may have been a mistake in the REPORT OF THE MADRAS EXHIBITION in which Johnson was given 'honourable mention' for having identified the 'Poovana oil' as coming from S. kleinii, while Odal oil was said to be still unknown. In fact it was the Odal oil that Johnson discovered. He is also enclosing another specimen, Ailanthus malabarica and bits of the bark also, which has been exhibited as incense previously in Madras. Unfortunately Johnson has no specimens of the incense to send. He is unable to send any rare plants, as his district does not extend into the mountains. He would like to send Hooker fruits and flowers, but unfortunately has no bottles to send them in. Johnson ends by telling Hooker he is not a botanist, simply a collector. Pages 1 and 4 of 4.