Letter from John Herschel, Collingwood, to Professor Henslow, 1843 May 7 : autograph manuscript signed.

Asking for his advice on his plants; saying that he made use of two of his recommendations, namely using chamomile on his aphid infestation and turpentine on his wasp infestation, both with success; adding "This year I shall inject them [wasp nests] with turpentine & hang up turpentine sponges in our grape-house - I should think camomiles [sic] planted among hops would protect them from 'Fly'!!??;" asking, in a postscript, "Pray can you tell me what will make obstinate bulbs of the genera gladiolus stratsonia - antholyea habiana brunswickia - flower - will salt do it? and in what way & in what doses ought salt to be administered? I have several...which root & leaf well and produce offset but which neither here nor in their native place (where I had them under culture) have I ever seen them flower. Is Guano, or Sulfate of Ammonia good for bulbs? Can you put me in a way to procure seeds of the Deodar Pine? I have had given me a very few but as I understand it is an apt grower & beautiful tree I should like to establish a nursery of them. Where in London can I send you a copy of my paper on the action of light on vegetable colours which contains facts that may interest you?"