October 29, 1900.
I have, with much pleasure, written to Messrs. West, Newman & Co., to send you (to University, Edinburgh) one hundred copies of each of the two pamphlets. Please write when some more (or Manuals) would be at all acceptable.
I am placing your Famine pamphlet carefully, so I have some still on hand, but I will not fail to ask you if more could go out well, viâ my presentation. I have been studying it to the best of my power. I am not able to condense such a mass of information fully, but this is what I think I have learnt. These famines originate meteorologically, the crops consequently failing for want of moisture. The only places (three districts if I remember rightly) exempt from them, are so, consequent on climatic circumstances or irrigation. The chief preventive measure, being irrigation, is not always easy of application, as, for instance, the possibility of a canal raising the height of the water-table too much. I follow to some degree the difficulty of bringing relief arrangements to bear on special bodies of men, as the weavers, for instance. It is also very interesting to read of the method of dealing with the “Wild Tribes,” their power of finding wild food, and of bringing in wild forest products adapted for sale. Some information as to details of kinds of food and preparation, also of the sums of money represented by Indian names, must surely remain adherent to one’s mind, but one special thing is the splendidly arranged work of our Government, which is a comfort to think of. I inflict the above on you, that you may see I have really been trying to benefit by your grand work, and I do congratulate you on the result of your heavy labour.
November 8, 1900.
I should be very thankful if you would tell me where Professor Jablonowski might safely apply for sulphate of copper at “an acceptable price”! I could, I suppose, look him up some sort of an address, but I should not feel sure it was trustworthy, and he is such a centre of work, also an old correspondent, I should much like to help. I should be very much obliged if you could conveniently tell me, or him—he is director of the Government Entomological Station, Budapest—where he could get a price list and a supply.
I have been ailing with some sort of slight feverish and gout attack, but nothing serious, and I am up again.
To-day Mr. Newstead is come to see what the experimental black currants are doing [in the garden]. I gather that even soaking the cut-down plants, roots and all, in methylated spirit has not proved a wholly certain means of prevention of Gall mite (fig. [65]). If so, I incline to think that I had best make an end of my black currant hospital, there is no use in simply bringing in infestation.
November 9, 1900.
I shall be delighted to see you at next week’s end, Saturday to Monday, 17th to 19th, as you mention. Many thanks to you for helping me to an answer to the Budapest professor about the sulphate of copper. I fancy “the picture” would arrive this morning at the University. I hope it will give satisfaction, and I make no doubt that it will have great honour done to it in the hanging. Perhaps some day I may see it!
“Reminiscences” had not been getting on, on paper, but when your letter arrived I took up a pen and wrote like a very whirlwind some points that were in my mind regarding the beginning of my insect studies. I wonder what you will think of them. I hope to have some progress to show you. I am having twenty feet accommodation for books put up in my dining-room. I think this will look well and be very convenient.