Letter from Isaac Bayley Balfour, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, to George Forrest in Yunnan dated 13 February 1905.
Balfour apologises for not writing earlier. "Today I am happy in being able to tell you that your case of plants has arrived - and what a treat you have given me! I know something of the difficulties of collecting but my experience of obstacles pales before your description of the conditions under which you have had to work. Yet what a result! Yous specimens are splendid and their interest botanically intense."
Balfour goes on to discuss some Primulas, including Primula japonica and Primula muscarioides (new to Balfour); Rhododendrons, including Rhododendron campylocarpum, and others unknown to Balfour. Saxifraga, Cassiope, Gentians, Corydalis, Clematis, Viburnum, Lonicera, Eukianthes, Pieris, Plumbago, Fritillaria, Lilium, Berberis, Polygonum, Trollius, Cornus, and Orchids including Cypripedium.
Balfour reassures Forrest that his collecting and accounts are all excellent, and finishes with a small update from Edinburgh: Tagg has just returned from a trip to Australia and the Treasury is appointing a committee to go into the whole question of our Herbarium and the necessary accomodation there and this I hope will result in immediate action. Mr. Jeffrey, Miss Traill and others continue to work there as heretofore.

Copy letter from Isaac Bayley Balfour, Edinburgh, to A.K. Bulley, Ness, dated 19 November 1906.
Balfour writes to thank Bulley for his testimony in favour of Mr Besant [of Bees Ltd, see letter to Balfour dated 2nd October 1904, Forrest file. GB235 FRG/1/1/1/1904/9. L.P.]. Balfour will keep this in mind when filling vacant post. He is finding it difficult to work out Forrest’s plants because so many are new and for described plants from the region it is difficult to get at the type specimens. Balfour undertakes to employ Forrest on his return until he finds something better. ‘He is about the best collector I know of. His specimens are splendid and his notes excellent.’
Plants referenced: Adenophora; Crawfurdia; Gentian; Potentilla
Letter is fire damaged with some loss.

Copy letter from Isaac Bayley Balfour, Edinburgh, to A.K. Bulley, Ness, dated 20 August 1906.
Balfour writes to explain his reasons for rejecting a proposal by The Co-operative Bees Ltd. for a system of plant exchange. Balfour prefers that the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh be treated as a purchasing customer. He will send Meconopsis bella and Primula reidii once the former has flowered.
Plants referenced: Meconopsis; Primula
Letter fire damaged and paper is very brittle; handle with care.

56 mss pages in ink and pencil in brown paper folder, 200 x 320mm comprising Part complete and incomplete drafts for projected “New Students’ Flora” – Polygonum, Fagopyrum and Oxyria by Charles Edward Britton, (1872-1944)