JDH writes that he is enclosing a copy of what he has written for W A Smith. Says that Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer [WTTD] will have concluded that the site of the kitchen garden was taken over for tree propagation for the Parks during Sir Benjamin Hall's time [as First Commissioner of Works]. The trees have now gone to Aldershot, Woolwich, Battersea & Victoria Parks. JDH says that a lot were sold cheaply or burnt as the Board of Works would not go to the expense of properly distributing & replanting stock. Potatoes continued to be grown to keep the 'kitchen garden' ground open. JDH reports that [John] Tyndall is much better but delicate.
Transcript
Portions of the ground had been kept open by Potatos[sic] all along, & this was the reign of the Kitchen Garden.
We found Tyndall*3 much better but very delicate.
E[ve]r aff[ectionatel]y y[ou]rs | J.D. Hooker[signature]
July 9/[18]91*1a
THE CAMP,
SUNNINGDALE.
My dear Dyer*1
I have done as you suggested, & enclose a copy of my finish[?] to W.A. Smith.
I dare say that you have discovered that the site of the Kitchen Garden was taken for the propagation of trees for the Parks, under I think Sir Benjamin Hall[']s*2 reign
& was un occupied for some years. The trees however went for the most part to Aldershot Woolwich &c. some I think to Battersea & Victoria Parks, but am not sure. When it became necessary to shift & replant the stock, the Board would not go to the expense -- a lot were sold for a song I think & the rest burnt.
Portions of the ground had been kept open by Potatos[sic] all along, & this was the reign of the Kitchen Garden.
We found Tyndall*3 much better but very delicate.
E[ve]r aff[ectionatel]y y[ou]rs | J.D. Hooker[signature]
1a. The letter also bears a stamp recording that it was received at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew on 9 July 1891.
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. Sir Benjamin Hall (1802--1867). British civil engineer and politician. He became First Commissioner of Works of the newly formed Metropolitan Board of Works in 1855 and in this role was the Government Minister with oversite of RBG Kew.
3. John Tyndall (1820--1893. Physicist and member of The X Club, a dining club of nine men that supported the theory of natural selection. Other of the club were George Busk, Edward Frankland, Thomas Archer Hirst, Joseph Dalton Hooker, Thomas Henry Huxley, John Lubbock, Herbert Spencer and William Spottiswoode.
Please note that work on this transcript is ongoing. Users are advised to study electronic image(s) of this document where possible.
Powered by Aetopia