To T. H. Farrer 13 October [1880]1
Down, | Beckenham, Kent. | (Railway Station | Orpington. S.E.R.)
Oct 13th
My dear Farrer
Since I wrote this morning to you a horrid fear has crossed my mind.2 It is possible, though not probable, that the rounded particles of brick in the castings, may have been rolled about by wind & rain, & afterwards been swallowed by the worms.—3 This possible source of error would be avoided if you could send me some castings from a gravel-walk with underlying brick rubbish; for the rubbish will thus have been protected from being rolled or rounded.
For Heaven sake forgive me if you can & believe me | yours very sincerely | Ch. Darwin
Footnotes
Summary
Is worried about brick particles in worm-castings. Asks THF for castings from a site where possible error would be avoided.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-12756
- From
- Charles Robert Darwin
- To
- Thomas Henry Farrer, 1st baronet and 1st Baron Farrer
- Sent from
- Down
- Source of text
- Linnean Society of London (LS Ms 299/38)
- Physical description
- ALS 2pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 12756,” accessed on 19 April 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-12756.xml