Letter from J.D. Hooker [Joseph Dalton Hooker] to George Maw

Information

Scope & content: Written from Royal Gardens, Kew. Manuscript

They cannot make out the drabical plants without fruit; it may be an Alyssum; he asks Maw to look out for and send pods and ripe seed if possible; he thinks Maw is right to select the Asturias [Spain], and would prefer it himself, though it is not so rich and peculiar in flora; his mother’s state and ‘statesman’ Ayrton’s [Acton Smee Ayrton, politician, first commissioner of works] ‘tricks’ have no prospect of passing; his mother is out of immediate danger but is weak and cannot lift her head; he asks if Maw will visit on his way south. Dated Saturday [1872; an earlier listing stated the letter was ‘from 1872 packet’ and the subject matter matches letters written in Sep 1872]

Credit Line: Courtesy of David Symonds Hooker / The Descendants of Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker / RHS Lindley Collections