Now, it has occurred to me that it would be an interesting way of testing the probability of sea-transportal of seeds, to make a list of all the European plants found in the Azores--a very oceanic archipelago--collect the seeds, and try if they would stand a pretty long immersion.

Do you think the most able of your little girls would like to collect for me a packet of seeds of such Azorean plants as grow near Hitcham, I paying, say 3 pence for each packet: it would put a few shillings into their pockets, and would be an enormous advantage to me, for I grudge the time to collect the seeds, more especially as I have to learn the plants! The experiment seems to me worth trying: what do you think?
Should you object offering for me this reward or payment to your little girls?
You would have to select the most conscientious ones, that I might not get wrong seeds.

I have just been comparing the lists, and I suspect you would not have very many of the Azorean plants.
You have, however, Ranunculus repens, Ranunculus parviflorus, Papaver rhoeas,?
Papaver dubium,?
Chelidonium majus,?
Fumaria officinalis.?
All these are Azorean plants.
With respect to cultivating plants, I mean to begin on very few, for I may find it too troublesome.

I have already had for some months primroses and cowslips, strongly manured with guano, and with flowers picked off, and one cowslip made to grow in shade; and next spring I shall collect seed.
I think you have quite misunderstood me in regard to my object in getting you to mark in accompanying list with (x) all the "close species" (323/1.

See Letter 279.) i.e., such as you do not think to be varieties, but which nevertheless are very closely allied; it has nothing whatever to do with their cultivation, but I cannot tell you [my] object, as it might unconsciously influence you in marking them.
Will you draw your pencil right through all the names of those (few) species, of which you may know nothing.