From W. E. Darwin [23 June 1866]¹

Southampton

Saturday

My dear Father,

I will go over to Isle of W on Tuesday & mark the females. I suppose it would not do to cut slips at present.²

Both the males have entirely abortive ovules, and both the females incomplete stamens:³

Do you want a slip of all 4 kinds? I cannot understand how they got called polygamous.⁴

I am sorry to hear Mama is laid up⁵

Your affect son | W. E. Darwin

CD annotations

2.1 Both … ovules] scored red crayon

3.1 of all 4 kinds?] scored red crayon

Footnotes

1

The date is established by the relationship between this letter and the letter to W. E. Darwin, 22 June [1866], and by the reference to Emma Darwin’s poor health (see n. 5, below). In 1866, 23 June was a Saturday.

2

In his letter of 22 June [1866], CD had indicated that William should mark the four flower forms of Rhamnus cathartica on the Isle of Wight, in order to take cuttings in autumn.

3

See letter to W. E. Darwin, 22 June [1866] and n. 9.

4

See letter from W. E. Darwin, 21 June [1866] and n. 4.

5

Emma Darwin’s diary (DAR 242) records a ‘feverish attack’ on 21 June 1866.