Description

John Fisk Allen, a gentleman in Salem, near Boston, has flowered the Victoria in a tank he built himself, from seed received from Mr Cope of Philadelphia. Thousands of people flocked to see the wonder and Allen has built a larger tank, hoping to attract more people in the future. He has recently written to Gray that his plant is dying and several sets of new seed have failed to grow. He fears he will have no Victoria to show next summer to reward his work and expenditure. Gray asks Hooker for seeds on this gentleman's behalf and suggests that they be sent through the minister, Mr Buchanan, in the despatch bag, packed in vials of water in a paste-board box addressed to Gray. Alternatively the seeds can be sent through Dr Boott. Gray compliments Dr [Joseph Dalton] Hooker's INTRODUCTORY ESSAY TO THE FLORA OF NEW ZEALAND and says he has abstracted a large section to be published in the May number of SILLIMAN'S JOURNAL [OF SCIENCE]. Gray asks to be remembered to Hooker and Thomson. Gray is anxious about Hooker's health; Gray, his wife and Torrey are all well, as were the Greenes when Gray recently called on them. Pages 1 and 4 of 4.