Lacock
6 Jany /49
Dr Sir
I cannot speak of Gibraltar from actual observation, but I imagine it too arid and rocky for a good botanic garden <1> – I have visited Corfu and found the flora of that island very interesting – There is a luxuriant vegetation, and I observed Cape and East Indian plants in the gardens – I think the most feasible plan would be for twenty or thirty of our spirited English cultivators to unite and form a kind of society, purchase some acres of land in the island lay them out in gardens, and employ a superintendant with assistant gardeners.
Remuneration in money for the outlay, they would not look for, but in seeds and plants they might easily obtain a large and welcome remuneration and the surplus produce of this kind would probably be willingly purchased by the London nurserymen, which would diminish the expense.
The governor of Corfu would probably assist and patronize the undertaking if he were invited to become honorary Patron ex officio, of such a society, but we can hardly expect that, if not a botanist, he would contribute towards the expense of the garden. Land is cheap, and I think the gardeners wages would be the chief outlay.
If it succeeded, Government would probably be willing to purchase the garden for the Society, wch would then dissolve itself having accomplished its object, and the garden would become supplementary to Kew. <2>
Believe me Yours very truly
H. F. Talbot
Notes:
1. See Doc. No: 06199, to which this is the reply.
2. The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.