dear father

i’m afraid my discovery must be rather bad for you. there is no more news about it; i want very much to try some dodge to make the protoplasm contract right into the cells.² i think i have got a dodge to see the protoplasm in drosera in a dead state; it is strasbuger’s plan for delicate prot⁠⟨⁠o⁠⟩⁠plasm. i kill the tentacle in very weak osmic acid; then coagulate them in absolute alcihol, & mount in a particular way in glycerine. i shall now be able to make out what happens to the flowing protoplasm during aggregation.³

we come tomorrow by a train that leaves orp. at 11.34; we have no bradshaw, but we shall come by the first train we can⁴

my paper went off pretty well, not quite so well as the old s stipa, i think.⁵ i will have a good look for musk orchids this afternoon.⁶

yours affec | F D