Summary

Does not think that publishing his letters as advertisement [for potato experiments] would help JT’s cause, so CD cannot give permission.

Regrets that he has neither the time nor health to undertake crossing experiments with JT’s specimens. Discusses crossing varieties.

Summary

Thanks for CD’s assistance and his advice on crossing.

Summary

Thanks for reviews of Insectivorous plants and of Climbing plants in Nation and American Journal Science [see 10329].

AG’s essay on seed dispersal ["Burs in the borage family", Am. Nat. 10 (1876): 1–4].

Preparing book on advantages of crossing [Cross and self-fertilisation].

Summary

Responds to CD’s query as to the duration of crossed varieties of peas. [See Cross and self-fertilisation, p. 305.]

Summary

JT’s crossing experiments on potatoes. Attempts to develop resistance to Peronospora.

Summary

Has become Professor of Botany at Genoa.

Offers to send his paper on the necessity of out-crossing.

Summary

Discusses further his theory relating to the soaring capacity of birds.

Mentions hybrids produced by various crossings of game-birds.

Summary

Sorry the corrections were so tedious, and offers to do revises.

Summary

Responds to CD’s new work [Cross and self-fertilisation]. Suggests results might have been more convincing if CD had measured weights instead of heights. The fact that infertile hybrids have not been produced means that the "one great objection" has not been got rid of: the physiological characteristic of species. Suggests an experiment to produce "sterile mongrels" which would remove objection.

Summary

Much pleased with CD’s book [Cross and self-fertilisation]. Is struck by width and caution of his generalisations and by the application of experiment to processes of life hitherto merely observed.

Summary

Thanks CD for [2d English edition of] Volcanic islands and South America [1876].

Is at work on Cross and self-fertilisation. Asks about some doubtful points.

Summary

Thanks for copy of Cross and self-fertilisation.

Francis Darwin’s observation of nectaries in Pteris is most curious.

Doubts cross-fertilisation in the rare cases of two flowers on the same stalk in Victoria and Euryale.

Summary

Glad to hear that [German edition of] Insectivorous plants is published.

Thanks for errata in Climbing plants [2d ed.].

Sends list [missing] of his papers, with those certainly not worth translating marked with a red line.

Reports on work in progress.

Summary

Cat born tailless as a consequence of a spina bifida.

Summary

Considers some flowers especially adapted for self-fertilisation, and believes all flowers are self-fertilising under some conditions. Gives examples of plants in which he believes all flowers are cleistogamous. Believes self-fertilisation is the primordial condition of flowering plants.

Summary

Tells JVC that to the title on the first page [of Cross and self-fertilisation] is to be added "in the vegetable kingdom".

Guesses that Orchids [2d ed.] will be 20 or 30 pages longer than the old edition.

Summary

Expresses his pleasure in reading Die Schutzmittel der Blüthen gegen unberufene Gäste (Kerner 1876)..

Realises he has made some errors in Cross and self fertilisation.

Summary

Thanks for sheets of new book. Intends to talk about it at a scientific social club meeting.

Is amused to read CD’s criticisms of his own style, as in the U. S. it is spoken of as being as faultless as his temper. Corrects a reference.

Summary

CD has just had an interview with Edward Frankland, who "almost laughs" at FD’s idea of getting potash and soda out of the soil by treating it with sulphuric acid. Asks FD to send him a soil sample to give to Frankland. Sends enclosures giving address and labels for soil samples.

Summary

Gives advice on breeding of blight-resistant potatoes.