To Francis Darwin 12 July [1879]1
Down, | Beckenham, Kent. | Railway Station | Orpington. S.E.R.
July 12th
My dear F.
I am glad you have tried touching cells, for I shd. never have rested until hearing a result of some kind.2 Was the point kept in contact for some little time? It rejoices me that the Phys. (I forget name) has looked at Dipsacus; I have always thought that you ought to go with that subject.—3 Wd. it worth while to show him aggregated matter in Drosera in movement, ie in early stage of aggregation? I doubt whether you will succeed in Drosera by contact, as gland only sensitive part & seat of movement chiefly at base of filament.
I have tried in peat radicles of Pisum with caustic above & below. There was no difference between the 10 control & 10 touched above in their geotropism; but I hardly looked early enough. But of the 10 touched below, 3 curved in opposition to geotropism—2 or 3 were straight & 5 or 6 geotropic in slight degree; so contest wonderfully great.4
I can see it will be impossible to try gold-beaters skin on mustard radicles.5 It has pleased me that I think I fully understand cause of “Sachs’ curvature” of radicles— too long to explain by letter.6
I have finished long chapter on Sleeping Plants & sent it to Mr Norman to copy & diagrams to Mr Cooper.—7
I am now looking over piles of notes on Heliotropism. By the way I am becoming frightened at changing so well-known a term as Heliotropism & cannot bring myself yet to write “Helism”. or “Proshelism”..8
I am more perplexed than ever about life of Dr. D: Hen thinks it very dull, & wants it much shortened & otherwise arranged. Erasmus likes it. Your mother wants parts shortened.— I shall take it on Aug. 1st to Lakes & finish it there.9
I am tired— Ever yours | C. Darwin
(What are your plans, if you have any, you degenerate Darwin.)10
Abbadabba flourishing & Dumming11
Footnotes
Bibliography
Erasmus Darwin. By Ernst Krause. Translated from the German by W. S. Dallas, with a preliminary notice by Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1879.
Movement in plants: The power of movement in plants. By Charles Darwin. Assisted by Francis Darwin. London: John Murray. 1880.
Summary
Notes observations on sensitivity and movement of radicles.
Has finished chapter [of Movement in plants] on sleeping plants and is now looking over heliotropism notes.
Is perplexed by Erasmus Darwin; Erasmus [A. Darwin] likes it, but Henrietta thinks it much too long.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-12152
- From
- Charles Robert Darwin
- To
- Francis Darwin
- Sent from
- Down
- Source of text
- DAR 211: 62
- Physical description
- ALS 4pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 12152,” accessed on 31 August 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-12152.xml