Abbotsbury <1>Dorchester
18 July
My dear Henry
As soon as you were gone I remembered I had plants to show you which escaped me.
Vella pseudocytisus, with its odd little silicules –
Ferula Tingitana – the Morocco Gum ammoniac – a handsome umbellifer –
Prium maritinum [sic] – in flower –
Dykia remotiflora – on the terrace.
Quercus glabra coming into flower – the only late, & only pretty flowering Oak –
Bentham <2> could not come I am going to send a branch of the Aloe, with a leaf – to Hooker <3> – the bunches are now out partially nearly up to the top, & very bright & yellow in the sun. The weather is w very misty & very warm with red sun & moon – but no rain – all bad for the harvest filling or ripening I fear & only exhausting the plant.
I remark a singularity in Statice minuta – its blossoms seem either to close regularly at night or to last only one day – at least they retreat into themselves after sunset – which none of the others I have do.
A peculiarity in Coronilla Iberica is that unlike most plants it loses its perfume at night, when flower & leaf seem evidently to drop asleep.
The Aloe is dropping honey in profusion attracting all the vagabond insects.
We return to Melbury <4> this afternoon. There has been a great thunderstorm as near as Bridport, but none here. The air was wonderfully clear one evening but ever since covered with a thin film of mist.
I hope you found all well –
Yr Affe
Wm
Notes:
1. Abbotsbury, Dorset: home of William Thomas Horner Fox Strangways.
2. George Bentham (1800–1884), philosopher & botanist.
3. Most likely Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker (1817–1911) who was a friend of Bentham, or possibly his father, Sir William Jackson Hooker (1785–1865), Prof & botanist.
4. Melbury, Dorset: one of the Fox Strangways family homes; WHFT was born there.