Dear Sir

Tomorrow (Saturday) I will select a Plant of “Ophrys Apifera” (var: lutea)¹ & send it to you, with a good Ball of Earth—in the hope that it may survive the process—

—I will try & get One of which the flowers are not entirely Overblown—so that the traces of the Component colours shall still be evident—

—But, in any case, rely upon it, the Plants sent shall be of this curious Variety, & not common O. Apifera—

—As to soil, (or rather a Matrix for the Soil they will bring with them,) light loam of Upland Pastures suits their habits well—

—As to common O. Apifera, when carefully protectedthroughout its existence, it attains with me even to 22 inches in height—but with no encrease of size in the flower, merely a slight darkening & depth in the purple portions—

Your’s most truly | G. Chichester Oxenden—

Broome | nr. Canterbury

July 21. 1871