Dear Sir,

The specimens of Sundew have been sent to the Chester station and I hope you will receive them uninjured.¹ Owing to absence from home of my friend M^r. Siddall,² in whose fern case the plants assumed their present character, I have not been able until now to send a careful answer to your enquiries. Perhaps one or two remarks in my last letter will be modified by what I have to say now.³

About the last week in June two or three plants of Sundew collected at Delamere were placed in my friend’s Wardian Case, which in dimensions is 24 in. x 18 in. and 24 inches high.⁴ They were put on a porcelain saucer in company with Pilularia & some Sphagnum & rested on the peaty soil which had been removed with the former.⁵ A little water was added at the time and renewed when necessary, so that the plants were kept very moist. Some bog pimpernel was also deposited on the saucer, which did not live long. The Pilularia & Sphagnum have continued a feeble existence until now. In the case were growing Adiantum pubescens, Trichomanes radicans & Selaginella coesium.⁶ The tendency of any plants placed in the case for preservation is to grow long & thin. With respect to Drosera the phenomenon I described is most noticeable on fresh young plants developed from leaf buds; but one old leaf in particular, which had become detached from the original plant, exhibited the same peculiarity. The plant forwarded to-day, which bears several leaves, was a branch or continuation of the axis of one of the original plants. It may be added that the fern-case is infested with black Padura like insects.⁷

I shall be glad to hear of their safe arrival.

Yours faithfully. | Geo. Cross

Charles Darwin Esq.

I have omitted to state that the aspect was westerly & that a shade was placed over the case when the sun shone full in the window.