My dear Sir

You told me formerly that you did not much care about my troubling you: I hope to Heaven you keep of same mind.— Will you ask M^r. Fitch to make two little diagrams for me for woodcuts; as by enclosed paper.—² And will you kindly give him the specimens, viz two common Primroses, one “pin-headed, as the Florists say with stigma at mouth of corolla: & the other with stamens at the mouth.— And cut them longitudinally with sharp scissors   M^r Fitch could keep a little account against me.— I think I shall publish an account of my observations & experiments on Primula; i.e. on its dimorphous condition.³ By the way you will find the pin-headed & non-pin-headed in any bank of Primroses.— I find that with P. Sinensis, the short-stamened flowers fertilise themselves, whereas the long-stamened flowers will not set without man’s or insects’ aid.—

I am now crossing largely Cowslips & polyanthuses. And this leads me to beg a second favour, viz to send me 2 or 3 flowers (not whole trusses) of pin-headed & non-pin headed, of any species of Primula, except P. vulgaris, Sinensis & Auricula.— If you have any other species pray fold me a few flowers in double green leaf, & pollen would come neither too dry or too wet for measurement.— If you can send please send names of species.—⁴

Yours very truly | Ch. Darwin