THE CAMP, Sunningdale. July 1/[18]88. My dear Joey Your letter made me very happy, for I was longing to hear from you and to know what you were about. Thank you for your congratulations on my birthday, which made me feel very old. We are all well here, and as usual. Dr and Mrs Allman have been staying with us, and Mattie is here for the Sunday. There has been a good deal of rain here since you left, but I think that fine weather has begun at last. The Register has been:- 26th...0.35 27.....0.12 28.....0.27 29... 0.12 0-86 The total for the month is 2'68. This is more than twice as much as last year when only 1-03 fell and in 1886 1.14 fell. The fall since June, that is for the first half of this year is 9.51, last year it was 7.33. And as the average fall in 17 years in London is 9.57, this year's fall is close upon that. The wettest months in the year are the last 6, so we may expect a good deal more. Yesterday it was quite cool and we went again to Waterer's Nursery at Woking but the Rhododendrons were almost all over, and the place looked quite different. Mr and Mrs Allman went with us and two Miss Lyons. We had lunch in the same place as when you were with us. Reggie went on his tricycle.

Tomorrow we are going to the Holloway College where I am going to give the young Ladies a talk about trees and how to distinguish them. When you write to me again tell me what differences you see between Pendock and the Camp - in the scenery and plants and birds if you can. Mamma and Reggie send their love to you. Please give mine to Grandmamma and Believe me, dear little Lion, Your affectionate father, JOS.D.HOOKER.