Summary

Looks forward to reading CD’s Earthworms.

Agrees that habits of sand-wasp are determined by natural selection.

Experiment of exposing plants to flashing light gives uncertain result.

Summary

Thanks for agreeing to propose Frank as F.R.S.

Would have enjoyed discussing Island life.

Summary

Will soon manage to go to Beaulieu. Is glad the book is going off well. Is thinking of going to the Roman Villa at Brading on the Isle of Wight.

Summary

Exchanges news on health.

Thanks AR for his worm observations.

George Darwin’s work is attracting attention; he intends to try for Plumian Professorship at Cambridge. Adds other news of George and of CD’s sons Leonard and William.

CD has finished his microscopic work and has only to write up two papers for the Linnean Society.

Summary

Gives an account of the reception of his paper at York [BAAS meeting].

Summary

CD has misunderstood his views on heliotropism. Agrees that his experiments on the movement of root tips are weak. Will conduct further research. Thinks that since mechanical conception of botany is not so widespread, those who agree with CD probably are in majority.

Summary

Comments on HV’s Über Organbildung im Pflanzenreich: über Wachstumsursachen und Lebenseinheiten [pt 1, 1878].

Mentions paper by his son [Francis Darwin, "The theory of the growth of cuttings, illustrated by observations on the bramble, Rubus fruticosus", J. Linn. Soc. Lond. (Bot.) 18 (1881): 406–19].

Summary

Discusses concept of intelligence in his Earthworms manuscript.

Remarks on GJR’s work on echinoderms.

Comments on Wilhelm Roux [Der Kampf der Theile im Organismus (1881)].

Discusses animal instincts, citing Fabre’s description of sand-wasps.

Summary

Thanks for letter and journals. Sends information on earthworms and also information from Mr Ruck. Describes his fishing and his success finding sea shore plants that are new to him.

Summary

Requests JSBS sign certificate for [Francis Darwin’s] candidacy [for Royal Society].

Summary

Glad WB has arrived in Brazil. Suggests study of insects and study of fertilisation in Melastomataceae. Want of books is not a serious evil.

Summary

Very pleased by JVC’s note about Movement in plants. Feared he would find it intolerably dull. Some missing sheets are being replaced. Also sends a perfect copy.

Summary

WTT-D’s suggestion about absorbent function of pegs in Abronia suggests origin of pegs in Welwitschia, which deeply interests CD. Previously could not see how pegs became large enough to be of mechanical use. Now thinks tissue between hypocotyl and radicle absorbs fluid, which would favour rise of peg to expose larger surface.

Rejects German contempt for investigating use of organs.

Asks WTT-D to observe how worms draw Robinia leaves into burrows.

Summary

Thanks for Movement in plants.

Describes work [on Pflanzenphysiologie, 2 vols. (1881)].

Summary

Urges Frank to reconsider his refusal of Cambridge Examinership.

Summary

Sends copy of his Das Bewegungsvermögen der Pflanzen [1881]. Disagrees with CD about plant movement.

Summary

Writes of his work and a paper accepted for publication in the Philosophical Transactions [? "Stresses caused in the interior of the earth", Philos. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. 173 (1883): 187–230].

Gives news of friends.

Summary

Uncle Erasmus is ill.

Thanks WED for his trouble about the cottages.

He has signed the note to Higgins.

CD has used WED’s Rhododendron case in Earthworms [p. 69].

Is using paper triangles in experiments on intelligence of worms.

Summary

Asks whether WED can collect some worm-castings from Beaulieu Abbey.

Summary

Asks WED to observe whether worms consistently draw acacia leaves into their burrows with a particular end first.

Will soon know whether he will need worm-castings from Beaulieu.