JDH writes to Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer regarding arrangements for publishing Harriet Thiselton-Dyer's drawings [in CURTIS' BOTANICAL MAGAZINE]. JDH criticizes the publisher Dulau for giving WTTD trouble with A HAND-BOOK TO THE FLORA OF CEYLON. JDH discusses his difficulties with classifying the grasses of Ceylon [Sri Lanka], [Otto] Stapf assists him with this but they disagree on the division of tribes & Stapf's key from FLORA CAPENSIS is proving flawed. JDH is going to Dartmouth, whilst he is away [William Botting] Hemsley will look after the BOTANICAL MAGAZINE.
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done. The Cyperaceae are all at the printers. As to the Tribes of Grasses they are hopeless agglomerations. I have spent a month over the Ceylon genera, & shall stick pretty close to Bentham *3. It is a toss up into what tribes, or association, many genera should go. I always [1 deleted word illeg.] consult Stapf *4 with advantage, without always agreeing what with him -- His multiplication of Tribes is excessive, & he has already to deviate from his key to Fl. Cap[ensis]. genera. We go for a fortnight to Dartmouth on 29th. Helmsly[sic] *5 will look after Bot[anical]. Mag[azine].
March 24/[18]99.
THE CAMP,
SUNNINGDALE.
My dear Dyer *1
I received your letter dated 21 only yesterday. By all means send Harriets *2 drawings over to the Herb[arium]., where I hope to be on Monday, & I will get them published as soon as possible : I fear it cannot be before July Number at earliest : to get all in one Number. I am extremely sorry that the Ceylon flora is causing[?] you so much trouble. Dulau's *2a conduct is inexplicable. The Ceylon grasses are nearly
done. The Cyperaceae are all at the printers. As to the Tribes of Grasses they are hopeless agglomerations. I have spent a month over the Ceylon genera, & shall stick pretty close to Bentham *3. It is a toss up into what tribes, or association, many genera should go. I always [1 deleted word illeg.] consult Stapf *4 with advantage, without always agreeing what with him -- His multiplication of Tribes is excessive, & he has already to deviate from his key to Fl. Cap[ensis]. genera. We go for a fortnight to Dartmouth on 29th. Helmsly[sic] *5 will look after Bot[anical]. Mag[azine].
for which I have retained him.
Ever aff[ectionatel]y y[ou]rs | Jos. D Hooker. [signature]
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 the Royal Horticultural Society. He married Hooker's eldest daughter Harriet in 1877.
2. Harriet Anne Thiselton-Dyer née Hooker (1854--1945). Oldest child of Joseph Hooker and his first wife Frances Henslow. Harriet was a Botanical illustrator and wife of William Turner Thiselton-Dyer. Her husband was Assistant Director of RBG Kew (1875--1885) and later Director (1885--1905), succeeding her father.
2a. Dulau & Co., 37 Soho Square, London, were booksellers and publishers.
3. George Bentham (1800--1884). British botanist who donated his herbarium of more than 100,000 specimens to Kew. He spent 27 years with Joseph Hooker in research and examination of specimens for the work Genera Plantarum, an influential work on plant taxonomy which is the foundation of many modern systems of classification.
4. Otto Stapf (1857--1933). Austrian-born botanist and taxonomist, who became a British citizen in 1905. He moved to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in 1890 and was keeper of the Herbarium from 1909 to 1920.
5. William Botting Hemsley (1843--1924). British botanist and 1909 Victoria Medal of Honour recipient. Started work at the Royal Botanic Gardens in 1860 as an Improver, then as an Assistant for India in the Herbarium, finally Keeper of the Herbarium and Library.
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