Summary

Thanks VOK for a photograph and his New Year wishes.

Summary

Asks GJR’s opinion about grafting experiments on sugar-cane carried out by the Baron [de Villa Franca].

Summary

On F. M. Balfour.

Effects of ammonium carbonate on roots.

FM’s Pontederia case is very curious.

Summary

Accepts GJR’s offer to prepare sugar-cane paper for publication [Villa Franca and Glass, "New varieties of sugar-cane", Proc. Linn. Soc. Lond. (1880–2): 30–1]. Suggests introduction and outline.

Agrees with GJR on microscope for Grant Allen.

Summary

Is obliged for TE’s paper on the wall lizard and another paper.

Summary

CD’s gardener reports that potatoes were not attacked by disease, but yield was not good. Noble of JT to plan the return of subscriptions if trade continues to improve.

Summary

Thanks FJC for presentation copy [of Die Pflanze (1882)].

Summary

Thanks for Science and culture [1881].

Refers to "Automatism" ["On the hypothesis that animals are automata"], wishing THH could review himself and answer himself and thus go on ad infinitum to the joy and instruction of the world.

Summary

Quantity of nitrogen in castings surprises CD.

Comments on papers: [J. B. Lawes and J. H. Gilbert, "Results of experiments on mixed herbage, pt 1", Philos. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. 171 (1880): 289–416; Gilbert, Lawes and M. T. Masters, "pt 2: The botanical results", Philos. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. 173 (1882): 1181–413].

Has never made sections to see how deep worms burrow – five or six feet is probable. Wishes the problem had arisen when he made his observations.

Summary

Thanks WO for gift of his translation [Aristotle’s De partibus animalium]. Suspects the introduction would interest him more than the text "notwithstanding that he [Aristotle] was such a wonderful old fellow".

Summary

Prefers to make the present of microscope at once [to Grant Allen].

Summary

CD sends cheque for £250 [see 13620].

Summary

Asks GHD to send a copy of his "paper on the moon" [probably Philos. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. 171 (1880): 713–891] to V. O. Kovalevsky.

Summary

Asking the lord mayor of London to call a public meeting concerning the persecution of the Jews in Russia.

Summary

Thanks JM for copy of Quarterly Review, with article on his worm book [Henry Wace, "Darwin on earthworms", Q. Rev. 153 (1882): 179–202].

Writer will change his mind on evolution. CD cannot think of any young worker in biology who is not convinced of the truth of evolution, though many believe that natural selection has not done much.

Summary

Accepts election as a corresponding member of the American Social Science Association [see 13615].

Summary

Discusses present of microscope to Grant Allen.

Mentions sugar-cane paper [by Baron de Villa Franca].

Summary

Thanks EH for gift of 2d ed. of his book of travels [Seven years in South Africa (1881)]. Expresses admiration for EH’s courage and zeal for science.

Summary

Agrees about Grant Allen affair.

Summary

Agrees to write a page or two on behalf of Donald MacAlister.