Dear Dyer

I thank you heartily for all the treasures just arrived, & even more heartily for the kind manner with which you take great trouble for me.² The plants have all arrived in very fair condition; but the ends of 2 leaves of the precious Cotyledon pulverulenta (with its wonderful bloom) were broken off:³ however I can experimentise on their basal parts & thus, I hope, injure no other leaves. The Nelumbium⁴ is a most beautiful leaf, & one is perfect, the other has withered since arrival, though I have put the pot in tub, & kept it out of the sun. Averrhoa⁵ looked piteous, but has now revived wonderfully by aid of shade & a watering. I am so glad of the Logwood-tree⁶ & of all.—

Seeds of Lotus very interesting to me; for if I fail in all other respects, I think I shall be able to describe a few odd facts about the sleep of Plants.⁷ By the way I observed last night to my surprise that Tropæolum minus sleeps.—⁸ I think Frank will do some good work on bloom & evaporation, & this is to be his share.⁹ It delights me to see that he is becoming a better & more careful observer than I am.— Once again hearty thanks

Ever yours sincerely | Ch. Darwin

P.S. I must just add that Frank has been feeding Drosera & we can now see a decided difference throughout the whole larger series between the fed with atoms of cooked meat & unfed plants.— This delights me as throughout Europe Botanists have been saying digestive power & absorption all useless—& the effects pathological.¹⁰