Feb[ruary]*1 3 1901
THE CAMP. SUNNINGDALE.
My dear Prain Your bounteous supply of seeds has arrived -- many thanks, I must try some of the most tempting, but, to tell the truth, without a much better gardener than I can boast of, the raising of seeds is a disappointment. I have however plenty of friends who will be glad to share them with me, so I can assure you that they will not be wasted. I am deep in Sikkim Balsams & on the verge of despair, there are

many new species, & the labor[stet] of detailing & analysing the flowers of so many hundreds of glued specimens is fearful. A whole morning often is spent over one flower! -- perhaps to be swept off the microscope plate as impractical. Of some it is impossible to macerate the flowers, even if you can get them off the papers. I shall however stick to them as long as my eyesight allows & my hands continue steady; but I would venture to suggest that all altogether new collections of the species should be made for the Calcutta Herbarium, the specimens

to be laid in drying papers, as gathered, & the individual floral organs be also dried separately. Duthie*2 has had this done and -- purely[?] for some 20 or more Kunnan[?] species, & with these there is no difficulty in describing from more inspection. He is going to have Kersenrin[?] similarly worked[?] this year. I find greater confusion than ever in Wallich’s own Herb[arium]*3 & the distributed numbers bear little relation to the types. If you think it would be of any use to you, & would send me your set of Wallichs I could with very little trouble collate[?] it with the Linn. Coe set for you. Your two Buchanan Hemilton[?] species (which are down[?] under Impatiens) were godsends.

I should never have found out odorate[?] without it. I think it is one of the fine things under Wallichs racemose[?] but his specimen are hardly recognizable. It does not occur in Sikkim] -- It is the only species known to me as having scented flowers. Edgeworth describes a I. maschate[?] as having seeds smelling of Musk! but his plant or typical! Reylei[?] & I suspect the Bhotia walle[?] is memorable[?] for the scent & the seeds are eaten by the Bhotias, who no doubt bagged them & so scented them. I find several more W[est] Himal[ayan] species in Sikkim. Trusting that the Prains & you keep your health & with Lady H’s kindest regards to you both[.] Ever sincerely yours | Jos.D Hooker [signature]