From John Scott 21 March [1863]
Summary
Thanks for CD’s answers on Passiflora
and Asa Gray review.
Has observed gradation of sterility in Oncidium species.
Has observed rostellar germination and fertilisation in Laelia. The latter was prevented in Bletia by covering the stigma with plaster of Paris.
Gongora atropurpurea capsules are swelling.
Author: | John Scott |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 21 Mar [1863] |
Classmark: | DAR 177: 85 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-4055 |
Matches: 5 hits
- … way, … but shut. 5.4] scored red crayon Top of letter : ‘Asa Gray | Gymnadenia’ pencil …
- … for CD’s answers on Passiflora and Asa Gray review. Has observed gradation of sterility in …
- … 1863 ). In A. Gray 1862a , p. 426, Asa Gray reported that pollen falling onto certain …
- … for you. I return by this evenings mail Asa Gray’s Review, for which I am greatly obliged. …
- … I am afraid, however, since I have read Asa Gray’s observations, that I have misunderstood …
To John Scott 6 March 1863
Summary
Answers JS’s criticism of natural selection, which he doubts JS understands. CD does not believe in an "innate selective principle".
To understand "utility" JS should read CD on correlation.
Origin of maize: no longer thinks husked form was wild because of Asa Gray’s evidence on its variability.
Has information from Thomas Rivers on weeping habit in trees.
JS’s experiments on coloured primroses.
Encloses bibliographical note on Passiflora.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Scott |
Date: | 6 Mar 1863 |
Classmark: | DAR 93: B66–8, B71 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-4031 |
Matches: 5 hits
- … longer thinks husked form was wild because of Asa Gray’s evidence on its variability. Has …
- … evidence for S. America but I now hear from Asa Gray that it is very variable, I do not …
- … See letter from John Scott, 3 March 1863 . Asa Gray gave this information in a missing …
- … Primulas of different colours. I sent Asa Gray’s Review by this morning’s post. I am very …
- … See Correspondence vol. 10, letter to Asa Gray, 26[–7] November [1862] and n. 3. See …
To John Scott 19 December [1862]
Summary
JS should be proud of his paper ["Nature of the fern-spore", Edinburgh New. Philos. J. 2d ser. 16 (1862): 209–27].
CD has just found that JS’s observations on the confluence of two sexes causing variability were independently confirmed by Huxley.
CD has always suspected a fundamental difference between buds and ovules.
Asks for examples of "bud-variation" or "sports".
Asks JS to test germination of pollen on rostellum of Laelia.
Offers JS money for experimental supplies, e.g., netting, to keep insects out of flowers.
Encloses an outline of crossing experiments with Lythraceae, Primula, Pelargonium, and others, which he feels would be valuable.
Note on melastomids.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Scott |
Date: | 19 Dec [1862] |
Classmark: | DAR 93: B35–6, B64–5, B80 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-3868 |
Matches: 4 hits
- … 1862) are in DAR 205.8: 14–21. In addition, Asa Gray had, at CD’s request, supplied him …
- … with observations on Rhexia Virginica (see letter from Asa Gray, 4 August 1862 ). …
- … on its age and position (see letter to Asa Gray, 16 February [1862] ). CD’s observational …
- … Daniel Oliver, 8 June [1862] , letter to Asa Gray, 1 July [1862] , and letters to M. T. …
To John Scott 12 April [1863]
Summary
Encourages JS to publish on sterility of orchids and to experiment on Passiflora.
Doubted Hooker’s poppy case.
Describes case of primrose with three pistils: when pulled apart allowed pollen to be placed directly on ovules. This supports JS’s explanation of H. Crüger’s case.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Scott |
Date: | 12 Apr [1863] |
Classmark: | DAR 93: B59, B77–8 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-4084 |
Matches: 5 hits
- … fertilisation , p. 330. CD refers to Asa Gray’s observations of pollination in Gymnadenia …
- … August 1862 (see Correspondence vol. 10, letters from Asa Gray , 29 July 1862 and 18–19 …
- … August 1862 ), and to the letter from Asa Gray, 22 September 1862 ( ibid. ). See letter …
- … March 1863] and n. 7. See also letter to Asa Gray, 31 May [1863] . For CD’s observations …
- … flowers , pp. 314–24. See letter to Asa Gray, 20 March [1863] and n. 5. For CD’s notes …
To John Scott 15 April [1872]
Summary
JS’s valuable observations on worms in India along with Asa Gray’s in the United States confirm CD’s opinion that worms work in the same way all over the world. Requests further information on the subject.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Scott |
Date: | 15 Apr [1872] |
Classmark: | Transactions of the Hawick Archæological Society (1908): 69 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8287F |
From John Scott 10 April 1865
Summary
Comments on CD’s Lythrum paper [Collected papers 2: 106–31]
and on H. Crüger’s orchid paper [J. Linn. Soc. Lond. (Bot.) 8 (1865): 127–35].
May take position at Calcutta Botanic Garden.
Regrets he cannot be elected to Linnean Society.
Pleased Asa Gray has commented on JS’s paper.
Author: | John Scott |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 10 Apr 1865 |
Classmark: | DAR 177: 115 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-4810 |
Matches: 4 hits
- … he cannot be elected to Linnean Society. Pleased Asa Gray has commented on JS’s paper. …
- … 1864] and n. 9). Scott refers to Asa Gray’s review of Scott 1864b entitled ‘Dioico- …
- … of its contents (see Correspondence vol. 12, letter to Asa Gray, 13 September [1864] , …
- … and letter from Asa Gray, 3 October 1864 ). Scott began his paper on Primula with a …
To John Scott 16 February [1863]
Summary
Tells JS Acropera capsule should be left to grow.
JS was correct on "bud-variation" in fern frond.
Does not believe Primula structure necessarily related to dioecism, but the difference in fertility of the two forms forced him to admit the possibility.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Scott |
Date: | 16 Feb [1863] |
Classmark: | DAR 93: B55, B81–2 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-3991 |
Matches: 4 hits
- … Correspondence vol. 10, letter from Asa Gray, 29 December 1862 ). See also n. 9, above. …
- … as I have just built a small hot-house. — Asa Gray’s observations on the Rostellum of …
- … s. I enclose vars. of Maize from Asa Gray. Pray do not thank me for trusting you: the …
- … from John Scott, 6 January 1863 ). Asa Gray’s observations on Gymnadenia tridentata (a …
To John Scott 19 November [1862]
Summary
Praises JS’s experimenting.
Has he ever studied the relative fertility of varieties? CD very interested in this subject.
Discusses Acropera.
Wants to quote JS on Zea [Variation 1: 321].
CD sends his Primula paper [Collected papers 2: 45–63].
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Scott |
Date: | 19 Nov [1862] |
Classmark: | DAR 93: B11–B14, DAR 147: 431 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-3814 |
Matches: 4 hits
- … another very clever pamphet by Prof. Asa Gray. — Have you a copy of my Orchis Book? if you …
- … holly for some time, and had unsuccessfully sought assistance from Asa Gray earlier in the …
- … year (see letters to Asa Gray , 21 April [1862] and 10– …
- … 20 June [1862] , and letter from Asa Gray, 18 May 1862 ). See letter from John Scott, 15 …
To John Scott 2 May [1863]
Summary
Impressed by JS’s attempts to fertilise Gongora.
CD has large collection of notes on orchids, but does not know when he will publish on them again.
Asks for JS’s papers on sterility of individual orchids and on Drosera.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Scott |
Date: | 2 May [1863] |
Classmark: | DAR 93: B25–6 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-4137 |
Matches: 4 hits
- … Campanula perfoliata. — I have asked Asa Gray for seeds; to whom I have mentioned your …
- … society’s Transactions. See letter to Asa Gray, 20 March [1863] . CD had been trying to …
- … 12] April [1863] ). See letter to Asa Gray, 20 April [1863] . For Scott’s observations, …
- … 7, and [1–11] April 1863 and n. 13. Asa Gray published his observations on Gymnadenia …
To John Scott 21 January [1863]
Summary
Urges JS to publish on orchid pollen-tubes.
Suggests comparing stigmatic tissue of sterile hybrids and fertile parent; he would expect hybrid plant’s cell contents not to be coagulated after 24 hours in spirits of wine.
Suggests JS coat orchid stigmas with plaster of Paris for his work on rostellar germination.
Asks for list of "bud-variation" cases; CD has devoted a chapter to the subject.
Inquiries about I. Anderson-Henry’s observational competence.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Scott |
Date: | 21 Jan [1863] |
Classmark: | DAR 93: B56–7, B75–6 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-3934 |
Matches: 4 hits
- … the solid pollen-masses to it! Read Asa Gray in 2 d Review of my Orchis Book on pollen of …
- … M r . Bridgman sent me his paper. — Asa Gray has sent me a few white & red seed of N. …
- … see n. 16, above. See Correspondence vol. 10, letter from Asa Gray, 29 December 1862 . …
- … See also letter to Asa Gray, 19 January [1863] and n. 3. Letter from Isaac Anderson- …
To John Scott 1 and 3 August [1863]
Summary
Thanks JS for orchid paper [Trans. Bot. Soc. Edinburgh 7 (1863): 543–50]. JS presents excellent new facts on sterility of orchids.
His argument that coloured primroses are not hybrids is good, as is idea of discovering primrose parentage by breeding for colours.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Scott |
Date: | 1 and 3 Aug 1863 |
Classmark: | DAR 93: B24, B27–8, B70; DAR 147: 455 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-4260 |
Matches: 4 hits
- … no more evidence about L. Lewisii: Asa Gray considers it only as var. — L. corymbiferum …
- … further experiments (see letters to Asa Gray , 2 January [1863] , and 19 January [1863] , …
- … John Scott, [26 July – 2 August 1863] ). Asa Gray thought that L. lewisii was merely a …
- … variety of L. perenne (see letter from Asa Gray, 27 January 1863 ). See also Forms of …
To John Scott 12 November [1862]
Summary
Discusses whether or not "male" Acropera bear fruit. JS’s interpretation of Acropera pollination is ingenious. Pollen-tubes of some cleistogamous flowers germinate in the anthers.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Scott |
Date: | 12 Nov [1862] |
Classmark: | DAR 93: B7–10 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-3805 |
To John Scott 3 December [1862]
Summary
JS’s facts on Primula are new to CD.
In Linum CD has also found dimorphic and non-dimorphic species.
Plans to publish next autumn on successive homomorphic generations in Primula.
"Fluctuating forms" due to culture.
Urges JS to publish.
Lobelia functionally monoecious.
Where did JS publish on Clivia hybrids? Did he count parent and cross seeds, as Gärtner shows is necessary?
CD has done large experiments on artificially fertilised cowslips. They never resemble oxlips.
Would welcome detailed criticism of natural selection by a careful observer like JS. Most criticism worthless. Expects a great deal from Lyell’s reaction.
Suggests JS do orchid experiment to see if rostellum can be penetrated by pollen.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Scott |
Date: | 3 Dec [1862] |
Classmark: | DAR 93: B60–3 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-3844 |
To John Scott 15 January 1872
Summary
Is resuming the study of worm-casts as he believes they will bear on the denudation of land. Requests specific information on the relative number, size, and manner of deterioration of worm-casts in India.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Scott |
Date: | 15 Jan 1872 |
Classmark: | Transactions of the Hawick Archæological Society (1908): 68 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8159F |
From John Scott 3 March 1863
Summary
JS criticises natural selection as based on an innate "continuously watchful selective principle".
Seeks seed of wild Rocky Mountain maize.
What is CD’s view on origin of maize?
Seeks information on self-sterility of Passiflora and Lobelia.
Weeping habit of trees.
Intended to say bisexual plants presented more established varieties than unisexual, not that they are more variable.
Explains his opinion that homomorphically fertilised Primula will produce only their own form. Is trying homomorphic crosses with different coloured Primula varieties.
Asks to read Asa Gray’s 2d review of Orchids.
Has finally successfully fertilised Gongora, but it was done by unnatural means.
Author: | John Scott |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 3 Mar 1863 |
Classmark: | DAR 108: 179 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-4021 |
From John Scott [1–11] April [1863]
Summary
Studying self-sterility, particularly in Oncidium, where abortion occurs consistently but stigma functions normally. His hybrid orchid crosses show sterility occurs capriciously. Thus it is not a "special endowment".
Disputes Asa Gray’s and Hermann Crüger’s view of rostellar germination.
Doubts absolute sterility of Catasetum.
Disappointed by results with homomorphic cowslips.
Author: | John Scott |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | [1–11] Apr [1863] |
Classmark: | DAR 108: 183, DAR 177: 86 (fragile) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-4073 |
To John Scott 6 June [1863]
Summary
CD has spoken to Hooker of JS’s scientific merit, but has not suggested him for a colonial appointment.
Advice on style of writing.
Making extensive extract of JS’s orchid paper to communicate to Linnean Society [J. Linn. Soc. Lond. (Bot.) 8 (1865): 162–7].
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Scott |
Date: | 6 June [1863] |
Classmark: | DAR 93: B38–40 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-4206 |
From John Scott 20 January 1865
Summary
Comments on his Primula paper [see 4213].
Describes his situation in Calcutta.
Author: | John Scott |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 20 Jan 1865 |
Classmark: | DAR 177: 114 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-4751 |
From John Scott 7 January [1864]
Summary
Has finished correcting Primula paper [see 4332].
Has presented paper on monoecious spikes of maize [Edinburgh New Philos. J. 2d ser. 19 (1864): 213–20].
Author: | John Scott |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 7 Jan [1864] |
Classmark: | DAR 177: 98, 99 f.3; Edinburgh Courant, 19 December 1863, p. 8. |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-4382 |
To John Scott 15 December 1876
Summary
CD is eager for further information about Lagerstroemia, which is sterile with its own pollen. Does the collection of dried plants reveal more than one form? Plans to republish papers on dimorphism.
Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Addressee: | John Scott |
Date: | 15 Dec 1876 |
Classmark: | Transactions of the Hawick Archæological Society (1908): 70 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10721F |
letter | (26) |
Darwin, C. R. | (16) |
Scott, John | (10) |
Scott, John | (16) |
Darwin, C. R. | (10) |
Darwin, C. R. | (26) |
Scott, John |
Darwin in Conversation exhibition
Summary
Meet Charles Darwin as you have never met him before. Come to our exhibition at Cambridge University Library, running from 9 July to 3 December 2022, and discover a fascinating series of interwoven conversations with Darwin's many hundreds of…
Matches: 1 hits
- … 9 July – 3 December 2022 Milstein Exhibition Centre, Cambridge University …