My dear Sir

I thank you cordially for the specimens received this morning; & for all the trouble which you have so kindly taken.² Putting on one side the 3 imperfect capsules, 6 are left, of which the labellum had been removed.³ In comparison with the 5 naturally fertilised capsules, two of the mutilated produced as much seed & seemed to have been fully fertilised; the four others produced very much less seed. So that the result in a limited degree supports my belief in use of labellum; but I can now see that a dozen other capsules from mutilated flowers ought to be compared with a dozen naturally fertilised. But this would not be worth your time & trouble.—

I sh^d., however, be very much obliged if you would answer me two questions (writing to Down where I return on Monday),⁴ viz; whether you chose average capsules of the naturally fertilised; for if you picked out the finest, in this case I sh^d. doubt the result; and secondly whether you removed only the further or distal or articulated part of the Labellum, as you speak in your letter of removing the labellum.—

Pray believe me | My dear Sir | Yours very truly obliged | Ch. Darwin

I sincerely hope that your health is reestablished.