Description

Jamie was glad to hear from both Hooker and Thiselton-Dyer that the Platycerium arrived in fair condition. He is sorry it is not P. grande as Hooker wished. Jamie can rectify the mistake if Hooker will send a good tracing of P. grande for the Malay collectors. Jamie has not seen the Mount Ophir Dipteris horsfieldii. He will try to procure it, but is unlikely to succeed: the Malays say the mountain is haunted and are terrified of going there; Jamie thinks they are more worried about tigers, which are more numerous than ghosts. Jamie discusses his observations on Myrmecodia and Hydrophytum [Hydnophytum?], which do not flourish when removed from their place of growth: the 20 remaining plants he retained, after sending some to Hooker, have all since died or are nearly dead. Jamie is pleased the mangosteens are doing well: in Singapore they grow slowly until they reach about three feet in height when, with sufficient moisture and manure, they grow more rapidly. Jamie will return Hooker's case filled with true Gamboge seed and mangosteens but, as fruit season is over, will not be able to do so until next summer. Dr Blackadder is currently in China on board the 'Orestes' but will return to England via Singapore. Jamie will send with him some specimens of male and female Gamboge flowers with fruit, leaves and a section of wood for Hooker to name the tree. The fruit is not edible. Jamie could not find a single Chinaman in Singapore who would work for Sir A. [Arthur] Gordon in Fiji, even at three times their normal wages, as it is a 'new country'. With the exception of one Ipecacuanha Jamie reports the plants are doing well. Jamie thinks Mr Murton is suitable, he was surprised to find such a fine garden. Jamie hopes that under Murton's supervision they will become the finest in the East. In one jungle walk with Jamie, Murton said he observed more variety of vegetation than he did in three months in Ceylon [Sri Lanka]. Jamie cannot get 'Divi-divi' seeds, it grows in Ceylon but not Singapore. Pages 1 and 4 of 5.