430 MISCELLANEOUS, 1850-1860 
Sir J. K. would only read the Gardeners' Chronicle, he will 
find out all about the plant and that the male is not now to 
be had at Kew^ — any more than apple flowers are at Xmas. 
I hke your account of Sir J. K., he promises well, but these 
people are always promising well, and they make me as 
snappish as a turtle by asking questions that are answered 
a hundred times over in the weekly periodicals. Some 
other people bother me in like manner about Ehododendrons; 
and 1 am tempted to say * read my book and you ^vill find 
out all about them ' ; it is hard to have to write books and 
read them to the pubHc afterwards ! 
A similar case occurs j^ears afterwards. 
To T. H. Huxley 
December 2, 1869. 
A. is a good soul, but is cursed with a Microscope. 
I proposed a tax on microscopes some years ago, exempt- 
ing Professors only: Kecommend to him a mild course of 
study — to be followed by a reperusal of your lecture, after 
which you may tell him safely that he may write again ! 
The following touches on the sense of home. In 1854 
Bentham had just decided to give his valuable herbarium to 
the nation and leave his beautiful but remote home in Hereford 
for Kew. With characteristic self- depreciation he had even 
contemplated giving up botany altogether, but the Hookers 
urged him to join them at Kew, where he could have the run 
of their own herbarium and library, and help to bring out the 
Colonial Floras projected by Sir William. Hooker had sug- 
gested this already, writing in 1853 : 
Do you know we often speculate on your coming to live 
in Kew, with plenty of botanical society for yourself and 
of friends for Mrs. Bentham ; how glad w^e should be of you. 
You are suffering from a common calamity in the country : 
the migration of neighbours, and one you cannot guard 
against and which will grow with your years. If I saw any 
prospect of an advantageous settlement of your collection 
at Kew I would urge your cutting Pontrilas and having a 
small estabhshment here. I think you could live here com- 
fortably for £600 including as much fly-hire as you pleased. 
