Summary

Abstracts literature on sensitive plants (Linnaeus, L. P. Cailletet, W. R. McNab).

The Mimosa at Down is M. pudica.

Dichogamy in Eucalyptus difficult to decide, but Thiselton-Dyer thinks there is some protandry.

[Letter is in W. T. Thiselton-Dyer’s hand.]

Summary

The Drosophyllum goes to Orpington by train this evening.

Summary

George Henslow is worse. All plans to go abroad have been given up. James Paget’s diagnoses enclosed.

Summary

He and Strachey will arrive on Saturday.

Is aghast at thought of being questioned on injury to plants by watering. Fears he will be considered an ignorant Director of Kew.

Summary

Will arrive at Orpington by usual train.

Summary

Has time only to thank CD for the invaluable hints.

Encloses Lathyrus nissolia seeds.

Summary

Returned last night. Huxley, left at Baden Baden, remarkably well.

Would like to come to Down with Strachey.

Summary

Is sending specimens of Eucalyptus;

goes tomorrow to receive LL.D. [Glasgow].

Summary

Hopes Drosophyllum was all right.

Opinion of Council of Royal Society [on Presidency] is twelve for JDH, five for Duke of Devonshire, and G. B. Airy for William Spottiswoode.

Summary

Mimosa prostrata, described by John Lindley as M. marginata, native of Brazil.

Who supplies CD with distilled water and chemicals?

Summary

Delighted with John Traherne Moggridge’s book [Harvesting ants (1873)].

Has suggested he plant seeds in various receptacles. Only two explanations for failure of seeds to germinate [in ants’ nests]: lack of circulating air or formic acid.

Has undertaken a botany primer for Macmillan.

Summary

Thinks the Huxley fund should be done. Difficulty will be getting him to accept it.

Summary

Describes his experiments on Nepenthes; finds action analogous to that in Drosera.

Summary

Has observed CD’s points. Except for leaves of Nelumbium, would have supposed both wax and hairs were connected with absorption or respiratory functions. May subserve some function connected with rays of sun. Watering most prejudicial in the hot sun: a splendid subject for experiments.

Adam is a good man.

Summary

Has had a week’s cessation of Nepenthes work.

Had to get out a paper for the Linnean Society on Thursday.

Has tried Mimosa albida in hothouse and found it wonderfully sensitive.

A military report from India praises his travel book.

Summary

He has noticed that Mimosa albida leaves closed only partially. It can be objected to CD’s theory that, if true, all, or at least more, species would close their leaves on application of water, unless he can show special injury done to M. albida by water.

Summary

Describes work on Nepenthes – more difficult than Drosera.

Has written to Dublin for a Drosophyllum.

Summary

Sends plant specimens.

He and Thiselton-Dyer, working on with Nepenthes, have independently found the spiral vessels going to the gland. CD’s view that the glands are secretory organs is suggestive. When Nepenthes is as much done as CD wants,

he will turn to Cephalotus and Sarracenia.

Summary

Drosophyllum is coming from Dublin. Will ship it to Down when it arrives.

The awful honour of Presidency of Royal Society; his aversion to dignities and honours.

R. Strachey [Proc. R. Geogr. Soc. (1873): 450] has paid him and CD a compliment.

Letter from Gladstone.

Summary

Leaves Wednesday with Huxley for holiday.

Family news.

He too thinks well of Bentham’s address.

Asa Gray elected Foreign F.R.S.

G. J. Allman is being proposed for Royal Medal by JDH and Huxley.