May 29, 1900.
Now I must say that you wrote exactly what I was wishing about my proposed book, “Insects Injurious to Forest Trees.”[[101]] In case Dr. MacDougall would not think me taking a liberty in suggesting the plan, I should very much indeed like to have the benefit of his skilled help in preparing the book, that is bringing it out in collaboration with him, and with our names on the title-page. Would you kindly take the trouble when you see him to lay the matter before him, for I scarcely like to come upon him suddenly without, so to say, a “sponsor.” My idea is that the forest attacks would work out much like the papers in my “Handbook,” of which of course I would gladly send a copy for his acceptance as well as material, i.e., Annual Reports or sometimes, if more convenient, extracted papers and a copy of “General Index.” I would undertake all expenses, i.e., printing, publishing, furnishing figures, and the like. I think I have of my own nearly as many of good up-to-date illustrations as we should need to illustrate every attack, but where additions are needed I propose (as I am doing now from one of Dr. MacDougall’s specimens) to have them figured from life by Mr. Knight.[[102]] I fancy the book would be about twothirds as long as my “Handbook of Orchard Fruits,” but being intended at first for University services, possibly the plan would be different. This he, you, and possibly Colonel Bailey [lecturer on Forestry in Edinburgh University] might have a word to say about. I should like very much to hear from you on the subject, and perhaps from Dr. MacDougall.
June 5, 1900.
You will tell me presently when you can come, but would not Mr. John Garton [of Newton-le-Willows, Lancashire, the originator of the scientific system of producing new breeds of crop plants by multiple-crossing] come too? I should like it very much if it were agreeable to him, as there are so many points of interest we three could go over together. You could assure him that he can be as quiet as ever he likes, and rest in his own room, just as he pleases. Will you both come on Saturday for Sunday? When you come we can have a good talk about the “Forestry Insect Text Book.” I am very glad to have it from you that Dr. MacDougall likes the idea of colleagueship. I have had a very nice letter from him with promise of one of details to follow, but when I found that he had been collecting notes for some years, I felt so very uneasy lest he should think me intruding on his projects (in fact very presumptuous) that I wrote him specially on this head. I shall be delighted to put every morsel of observations, and blocks, and all I can to help at his service, but it is to his skill that I look to form the book into what he knows, much better than I, will suit University needs.
The weather surely needs a little putting to rights. It caught me rather sharply, and I have had to spend some days in bed, but I am up again now, and getting some good observations.
P.S.—I have some such nice letters from Edinburgh about my photo. A very charming one from Sir Ludovic Grant, also from Professor Seth.[[103]] I mean to keep them as great treasures.
June 14, 1900.
I am in receipt of a long letter from Dr. MacDougall about the text-book of “Forest Insects,” and it seems to me that his plan is excellent. For my good folks, who want the plainest facts fairly driven into their heads in the very plainest words, I think it would be too scientific in the possession of special entomological chapters, but I quite think in the present case these are needed, and my only fear is lest he should wish me to collaborate in these. All the rest I think I should be quite at home in, and I am going to write him about it, as I should very much like the joint work.
I am writing down bits (long or short as they come into my head) of “Recollections,” on pages with appropriate headings in my letter book, which usually lies on the table most of the day, so is at hand; and most miscellaneous reminiscences go in which I feel sure I should not have courage to think of giving excepting on our plan. I rather think they might be interesting, and I mean to see in good time about the shorthand writer. The head reporter of our best local paper can take down well a report from my dictation. Do not you think that if we can get the “Recollections” (how would “Recollections of Changing Times” do for a title?) into shape that—instead of publishing as I usually do with any amount of trouble and little return for the expense—it would be a good plan to offer the MS. to some publisher, who might, I think, take it off my hands on terms to be agreed upon? But when next we meet I hope we shall go into all these matters comfortably, as you say, “after dinner.”
P.S.—The French medal (plate [XXII].) appeared to-day in a registered letter. I wonder whether Professor Ewart has got his? I have information of the worst attacks of eel-worms in broad beans that I ever saw, after oats in the spring of 1898 and of 1899.