My dear Hooker

I am extremely glad to hear about the aggregation in the Nepenthes glands.— It is possible, judging from Drosophyllum, that there may be secreting glands distinct from absorbent glands; if so the former will be little affected by C. of Ammonia.—²

I strongly think you do not give the experiment with the cubes of albumen a fair chance by trying pitchers including dead insects. Considering size of the pitchers, I sh^d. think you had better suspend cubes $\frac{1}{10}$ of an inch in size. I w^d. let one lie at bottom & another suspended in the middle of fluid. Cubes of roast meat, not overdone, are also excellent for trial, but I w^d. try them in distinct virgin pitcher.—

Many thanks for the analysis; of secretion of Nepenthes, it is quite sufficient, as of course I do not touch on Nepenthes.³

I fear Acacia farnesiana is much too big to send: A fresh leaf, of A. farnesianum sent damp could tell me something.—

Could you strike a cutting or graft one on any common species for me; & then perhaps it w^d. form new leaves in 2 or 3 months; & so, with Mimosa albida.—⁴ If this can be done, there is no time to be lost. I fear that you have no species living of Desmodium with 3 leaflets (whether or not all 3 leaflets are of same size); I long to examine such a species.— I have told Frank to look out for any dried Desmodium with tendrils: I see such names as D. volubile, adscendens, adhæsivum, prehensile, uncinatum, retinens, & spirale.— What is D. gyroides, I fancied it might be near gyrans.— But Frank will be able to tell me something.⁵

Huxley is here & is wonderfully pleasant & jolly— He says that he is quite well; but his face is very thin, & he eats surprisingly little.⁶

Your troublesome friend | Ch Darwin