EXTRACTS FROM HIS LETTERS. 



xxxi 



water the earth and plants moderately ; then screw down the lid, 

 when the plants, if they have rooted in the earth, will not die, 

 because the glass admits light to them. But to be sure of the 

 plants having rooted, you must keep the cases with you for three 

 weeks, and if any plants are sickly, take them out and put in others. 



" I send a list : when your next despatch arrives, I will increase 

 your pay. If you send plenty of seeds, etc. often, that is once a 

 month or six weeks, I will keep you in my service even if I do not 

 come back to Malacca. 



" I also send a box with a large bottle in it of spirits of wine, 

 this is for monkey cups (Nepenthes). Take the finest ones you can 

 get of all sorts, and put them in the bottle, leaves and all, do not 

 squeeze them into the bottle, then send it to me." 



" I send two empty glazed cases for plants : when these reach you, 

 fill them with moist earth and plant in them ripe fresh seeds of 

 the following palms * * * You need not wait until you have ob- 

 tained all, but such only as you can get at once ; but remember 

 when you have got ripe seeds of any kind to sow them in the case. 

 Take care the earth is not too wet. The seeds you sent, sown in 

 an open box, came up, and we have now six or seven live Ebools, &c. 



" Send me up some ripe fruits and seeds of the Epoo, those you 

 sent were not ripe. If you can get any ripe ones, also sow some 

 with the palm seeds." 



Calcutta : March 26th, 1844. 



" When you prepare Rotangs do not cut off the stalk of the leaf 

 close to the stem, but six inches from it, and do not cut off the thorns, 

 but tie all up in mats or gunny bags : at the same time send the 

 leaves of each dried in paper like other plants and flowers, all 

 with names written plainly in English and Malay. 



" Send live plants according as you receive boxes for them." 



"Whenever you find ripe fruits or seeds, dry them in the sun, 

 and then send them to the Post Office for despatch in paper bags. 

 Sow palm seeds in open boxes as you did before, the Ebool having 

 come up." 



