My dear Sir,

I was very much gratified by receiving your kind letter, and reading the complimentary terms in which you speak of my article on Salvia.² I am so utterly ignorant of most botanical literature, and have such a limited smattering of botany that I could not but fear that any observations I might make would turn out either erroneous, or, if correct, mere feeble repetitions of what others had described already & better.

One however of the benefits which your works have conferred is that those who are little skilled in systematic botany can yet examine flowers with the certainty of rational enjoyment, and a fair chance of hitting upon some unnoticed adaptation of structure—

I am on the point of starting myself to spend my summer holiday at Barmouth & Dolgelley,³ and trust you will pardon me if I give myself the pleasure of calling upon you.

Believe me | Y^rs. sincerely | W. Ogle.