From Asa Gray 12 November 1876
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.
Author: | Asa Gray |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 12 Nov 1876 |
Classmark: | DAR 165: 191 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10668 |
Matches: 3 hits
- … to CD’s paper ‘Fertilization of papilionaceous flowers’ (see Correspondence vol. 7, letter …
- … Press of Harvard University. ‘Fertilization of papilionaceous flowers’: On the agency of …
- … bees in the fertilization of papilionaceous flowers, and on the crossing of kidney beans. …
To Asa Gray 20 July [1857]
Summary
Believes species have arisen, like domestic varieties, with much extinction, and that there are no such things as independently created species. Explains why he believes species of the same genus generally have a common or continuous area; they are actual lineal descendants.
Discusses fertilisation in the bud and the insect pollination of papilionaceous flowers. His theory explains why, despite the risk of injury, cross-fertilisation is usual in the animal and vegetable kingdoms, even in hermaphrodites.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Asa Gray |
Date: | 20 July [1857] |
Classmark: | Archives of the Gray Herbarium, Harvard University (9b) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2125 |
Matches: 2 hits
- … bud and the insect pollination of papilionaceous flowers. His theory explains why, despite …
- … from crossing! What you say on Papilionaceous flowers is very true; & I have no facts to …
To Asa Gray 18 June [1857]
Summary
Thanks for AG’s remarks on disjoined species. CD’s notions are based on belief that disjoined species have suffered much extinction, which is the common cause of small genera and disjoined ranges.
Discusses out-crossing in plants.
Has failed to meet with a detailed account of regular and normal impregnation in the bud. Podostemon, Subularia, and underwater Leguminosae are the strongest cases against him.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Asa Gray |
Date: | 18 June [1857] |
Classmark: | Archives of the Gray Herbarium, Harvard University (9a) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2109 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … vegetables this was possible . — Papilionaceous flowers are almost dead floorers to me, & …
To Asa Gray [after 15 March 1857]
Summary
Urges AG to generalise from his observations on the flora of the northern U. S.
Expected to find separation of sexes in trees because he believes all living beings require an occasional cross, and none is perpetually self-fertilising. The multitude of flowers of a tree would be an obstacle to cross-fertilisation unless the sexes tended to be separate.
The Leguminosae are CD’s greatest opposers; he cannot find that garden varieties ever cross. Could AG inquire of intelligent nurserymen on the subject?
Thanks AG for information on protean genera; much wants to know whether their great variability is due to their conditions of existence or is innate in them at all times and places.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | Asa Gray |
Date: | [after 15 Mar 1857] |
Classmark: | Archives of the Gray Herbarium, Harvard University (8) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2060 |
Matches: 2 hits
- … my maximum difficulty is trees having papilionaceous flowers: some of these, I know, have …
- … papilionaceous plants apart to prevent crossing. (I have seen statement of naturally formed crossed Phaseoli near N. York) The worst is that nurserymen are apt to attribute all variations to crossing. — Finally I incline to believe that every living being requires an occasional cross with distinct individual; & as trees from mere multitude of flowers …
letter | (4) |
Darwin, C. R. | (3) |
Gray, Asa | (1) |
Gray, Asa | (3) |
Darwin, C. R. | (1) |
Darwin, C. R. | (4) |
Gray, Asa |
Darwin in letters,1870: Human evolution
Summary
The year 1870 is aptly summarised by the brief entry Darwin made in his journal: ‘The whole of the year at work on the Descent of Man & Selection in relation to Sex’. Descent was the culmination of over three decades of observations and reflections on…
Matches: 1 hits
- … The year 1870 is aptly summarised by the brief entry Darwin made in his journal: ‘The whole of the …
Scientific Networks
Summary
Friendship|Mentors|Class|Gender In its broadest sense, a scientific network is a set of connections between people, places, and things that channel the communication of knowledge, and that substantially determine both its intellectual form and content,…
Matches: 1 hits
- … Friendship | Mentors | Class | Gender In its broadest sense, a scientific …
Darwin in letters, 1856-1857: the 'Big Book'
Summary
In May 1856, Darwin began writing up his 'species sketch’ in earnest. During this period, his working life was completely dominated by the preparation of his 'Big Book', which was to be called Natural selection. Using letters are the main…
Matches: 1 hits
- … On 14 May 1856, Charles Darwin recorded in his journal that he ‘Began by Lyell’s advice writing …
Darwin in letters, 1858-1859: Origin
Summary
The years 1858 and 1859 were, without doubt, the most momentous of Darwin’s life. From a quiet rural existence filled with steady work on his ‘big book’ on species, he was jolted into action by the arrival of an unexpected letter from Alfred Russel Wallace…
Matches: 1 hits
- … The years 1858 and 1859 were, without doubt, the most momentous of Darwin’s life. From a quiet …