JDH writes to Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer regarding Térme[?] repeatedly objecting to the appointment of George Samuel Jenman, previously as Superintendent of the Jamaica Botanic Garden [Castleton] & now to a post with the Museum at Demerara [British Guiana, now Guyana]. JDH recommended [Sir Anthony] Musgrave send Jenman to Venezuela for chocolate. JDH will respond to a letter from Campbell. JDH discusses the deterioration of the wood work in the hot houses at RBG Kew, including the Orchid House, Victoria[?] House & Tropical Fern House, & suggests ventilation & using hard wood would prolong its life from the 6 years predicted by John Smith. He mentions using brown paper to patch up Palm House holes. Mentions £2000 should do more in [Economic Botany] Museum Number 1 than pay for a staircase. JDH adds in a post script that they have been to Stirling & Callander.
Transcript
indifferent character of Jenman as head of the Jamaica Garden -- the idea is absurd.
I suppose that Musgrave has sent Jenman to Venezuela for Chocolate, according to my recommendation.
I shall write to Campbell from this.
I quite expect that the wood works of the Orchid House will follow that of the Victoria[?] House -- both have lasted much longer than that of their predecessors. Smith always gave me 6 years as the duration of the wood of
Sept[ember] 2/[18]79
Craigflower [Torryburn, Scotland]
Dear Dyer*1
I have so many letters to answer to day, that I shall not catch the post with this.
Thanks for sending on Campbell's letter -- I cannot conceive what that goose Mr Térme[?] could be thinking of when he took me up for saying that [George Samuel] Jenman*2 would do for the Museum at Demerara! -- it is just like his having given us an
indifferent character of Jenman as head of the Jamaica Garden -- the idea is absurd.
I suppose that Musgrave has sent Jenman to Venezuela for Chocolate, according to my recommendation.
I shall write to Campbell from this.
I quite expect that the wood works of the Orchid House will follow that of the Victoria[?] House -- both have lasted much longer than that of their predecessors. Smith always gave me 6 years as the duration of the wood of
the former orchid, Victoria & Trop[ical] Fern Houses -- I am quite sure that with proper ventilation they should last 10, & with good wood indefinitely, but we shall not get the latter without paying for it -- Do make out why hard wood is not being used.
I wish we had thought before of oiled or waxed brown paper for the P[alm]. House holes.
I hope that £2000 will do much more than make the Museum Staircase[?] for No I. which will not give us much room.
Ever aff[ectionatel]y y[our]s | J. D. Hooker[signature]
We had a tolerable day yesterday at Stirling & Callander. Rain to day.
Please send 1d stamps.
1. Sir William Turner Thiselton--Dyer (1843--1928). British botanist and third Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (1885--1905). He succeeded Joseph Hooker in the role after serving as his Assistant Director for ten years. He previously held professorships at the Royal Agricultural College Cirencester, Royal College of Science for Ireland and Royal Horticultural Society. He married Hooker's eldest daughter Harriet in 1877.
2. George Samuel Jenman (1845--1902). British gardener and botanist trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Superintendent of Castleton Botanical Garden, Jamaica from 1873 to 1879. Government Botanist and Superintendent of the Botanical Gardens in 'Demerara' or 'British Guiana' (now Guyana) from 1879 to 1902.
3. Sir Anthony Musgrave (1828--1888). British Colonial administrator. Governor of Jamaica from 1877 to 1883.
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