of individual sterility in Orchids. I have unfortunately failed in giving illustrations from genera distinct from those mentioned in my paper.² This would have enhanced their interest; my experiments are so much limited here from want of subjects; our orchid collection being exceedingly poor.³

I can give you no information whatever as to origin of our Red & White Primroses.⁴ I have asked several old and experienced growers as to this: I find that all agree in regarding them as varieties of the common yellow; but, none can affirm that he has raised either from a perfectly pure yellow primrose. It is possible they may have such an origin as you suspect. If I be permitted, however, to lay any stress upon my experiments, they appear to me somewhat opposed to this.⁵ Thus though both varieties manifest curious idiosyncrasies in the production of seed when fertilised with own-pollen, individuals of both, nevertheless do as I have proved, occasionally produce seed. Hence if we admit them to be crosses; or hybrids between cowslips & primroses; ought we not naturally to look for an increased fertility from conjunctions with either of their presumed parents? This not being the case I had concluded before you had suggested the above that they were truly & simply modified descendants of the common yellow primrose. Since I have procured seeds from them, however, there are hopes for enlightenments on this. Perhaps you would like to try results. I therefore enclose a few seeds from both.⁶ I am sorry that I had no more by me, having sown all as I gathered them to economise time in the elicitation of evidence. One of the packets of Red you will observe queried; this may chance to be from the White variety; having neglected to name when I gathered contents: you may rely on their being from one or other of same however. I have only a single capsule left—certainly—sowed from the White variety likewise enclosed: I will send young plants, however, if I succeed in raising them.

I enclose also a few self-fertilised seeds of my equal stamened & styled Cowslip: perhaps you will like to see their results likewise.⁷ The great self-fertility of this plant conjoined with the high degree of sterility from unions with the other forms has surprised me much.

I am greatly obliged for your interesting tables on crosses between Cowslips & primroses.⁸ I was much struck with results of the crosses between long-styled Cowslips & Primroses. These eight flowers heteromorphicaly crossed produced no seeds, while from the same number of homomorphic crosses I had three capsules, containing respectively 17, 10 & 6 seeds: they—the seeds—were all—seeds— smaller than usual. I have sown them, however & we will see how they germinate. Is it not singular how the homomorphic should so exceed the heteromorphic?⁹ In your reciprocal cross—Primrose female—I see the heteromorphic cross is again abortive! Again how singularly productive your short-styled crosses are!¹⁰ The average production per capsule of my heteromorphic unions with White Primroses is about 21 seeds: the homomorphic about 13. I here refer to unions with own-pollen—

I really do not think that there is any fear from imperfect castration when insects are guarded against. I have at least always found as you say when these plants were so protected that no seed was produced even when the anthers were all allowed to remain.¹¹

The plants of Linum Lewisii, with us have all turned out L. Libericum which has provoked me much.¹² But, I have now got one plant which I am satisfied from description in Bot. Mag. is really L. Lewisii.¹³ But though I have watched every flower, there is no variation, all are short-styled. I have just had a note from a friend,¹⁴ however to call and see a plant of it which he informs me is producing in general short-styled flower, with others—occasionally sta. & sty. equal. This I will call and see. I trust it may prove so. I have looked over the specimens in the Herbaria here but they contain few specimens of it: they exhibit no traces however, of Planchon’s trimorphic characteristics¹⁵   Have you had any confirmatory evidence? Have you seen the Linum Mongynum, a dimorphic species? I find a long-styled plant of this singularly productive, and there is no short-styled plant near, indeed I have only seen dried specimens of the latter. The majority of the capsules produced by the former contained 10 apparently good seed—& this is the full number that it can possibly produce.

I am kept very busy at present; so pray excuse my hurried scrawl.

I remain | Sir | Yours very respectfully | J. Scott