Weston-Super-Mare
Oct[ober] 30 1900.
My dear Prain I thank you much for the Impatiens seed, of which I have sent the largest share to Kew; for coming from low elevations, they would not grow with me. I have also sent some to Lynch*1 at Cambridge & Thomson*2 of Ipswich both enthusiastic raisers. I am working (when at home) all day at Impatiens & have dispatched all your Malayan & Chinese, & am leaving sketches on the sheets, which will enable you to identify them specifically which is impossible from the squashed

flowers. I am surprised at my success in macerating & spreading out the floral organs -- but the time it takes is terrible; what with getting them out of the glue & dissected, few single flowers takes less than an hour to prepare for sketching, which latter is quickly done, mere cuttings[?] of course. In most cases I have mounted the sepals & petals on strips of paper placed with the specimens. The only ones of any importance in your Herb[arium] that are not in Kew are Forbes*3 Sumatran, but the specimens are vile & mounting atrocious -- King*4 is I believe asking you that these, are or any other enigmas, should be retained at Kew. This was his suggestion. I could not be so

bold. If you agree I will send you rough sketches of specimens retained. Before going at the Sikkim, Khasia, & [illeg.] species, I am doing the Malayan & Chinese in Kew Herb[arium] & am surprised at the difference between the Chinese mountain & Sikkim ones -- but this is not wonderful when we consider the extraordinary difference between the Himalayan species from W[est] of Nepal & from E[ast] of Nepal -- Sikkim & Kashmir have hardly a species in common. I cannot remember any genus with so many species in each country, & in few (if any) in common, of annuals especially. If you have collections in Burma prey call their attention to Impatiens -- there must be many species there -- we have a new one flowering now at Kew. Especially call attention to putting separate

flowers into blotting paper on the spot -- a my small pocket-book should always be carried by the collector for flowers of these & such plants as Scitamineae & delicate Orchids &c. King is slaving away at Eugenia [illeg.] & his work will be invaluable. He cannot give us even a day at the Camp.! Ever sincerely yours | Jos.D Hooker [signature]