Summary

He has only an uncertain memory of the placement of stamens in the [monstrous?] primrose CD asked about.

Summary

Thanks for Orchids.

Summary

Pleased with CD’s opinion of the Henslow Memoir [L. Jenyns, Memoir of the Rev. John Stevens Henslow (1862)]

Summary

Bee with adhering orchid pollinia lent to Charles Daubeny. Pollen-masses shaken off but if CD still interested he is welcome to specimen.

Summary

Offers to translate Orchids, since H. G. Bronn has died.

Summary

Reports observations on Listera cordata in accordance with CD’s wishes.

Agrees with what CD says about adaptations [in Orchids, p. 28–31], but cannot comprehend how they can be explained by natural selection.

Summary

Has had news from Asa Gray about Civil War.

Belatedly thanks CD for Orchids, which shows CD to be the successor to Gilbert White.

Summary

Hopes to have Lythrum hyssopifolium seeds to send soon.

BAAS is meeting in Cambridge and all eminent Cambridge men are wanted present. If his health were reliable, CD would be in chair of Botany and Zoology Section.

Summary

Thanks JHB for specimen of Corallorrhiza;

would like some seeds of Corydalis claviculata.

Summary

Thanks for Hildebrand’s offer to translate Orchids into German, but H. G. Bronn had finished his translation before his death (Bronn trans. 1862). Has not yet received Hildebrand’s work on the distribution of coniferous trees (Hildebrand 1861). Asks that his compliments be presented to L. C. Treviranus.

Summary

Appreciates CD’s acknowledging his letter and his comments on Acropera. Will send CD the Acropera capsule which is now maturing.

Experimenting on vegetable parthenogenesis.

Structure of Acropera.

Summary

Thanks LJ for Memoir of Henslow; thinks it will be invaluable as an example to other clergymen.

Summary

Thanks for Primula paper [Collected papers 2: 45–63].

Separation of sexes in Billbergia.

Offers to experiment under CD’s direction, now that he has retired from Kew.

Summary

Has received Melastoma and Vanilla.

Has seen again the two sets of plants of Heterocentron raised from two lots of pollen from same flower – a marvellous difference in stature.

"But oh Lord what will become of my book on variation: I am involved in a multiplicity of experiments."

Observations on Viola.

CD’s fancied dimorphism of Oxalis is all a confounded mistake; only great variability in length of pistils.

Found Henslow’s life [L. Jenyns, Memoir of the Rev. J. S. Henslow (1862)] interesting but fears the public will think it dull.

Summary

Describes floral anatomy of a Catasetum sent by DO.

Has gone on from orchids to studying insect agency in Pelargonium.

His doubts on the worth of publishing Orchids.

Summary

Now believes flowers of Fumariaceae must be self-fertilised.

Planning a piece on dimorphism in the Natural History Review ["On the two forms, or dimorphic condition, in the species of Primula … by Charles Darwin", n.s. 2 (1862): 235–43].

Observations on Campanula dimorphism.

Summary

Difficulties in beginning experiments upon retirement.

Describes his observations on insect pollination of Antirrhinum and the effect of excluding the pollinators.

Has been observing variant forms of Plantago

and comparing local orchids with CD’s observations.

Possibility of an intermediate-styled primrose.

His experiments at Kew and J. B. Lawes’s at Harpenden on deterioration of vegetables and cereals.

Summary

Wife’s health better.

Visited Duke of Argyll.

Thanks CD for Cruciferae diagram; will ponder it.

Staggered by complexity of Welwitschia.

Summary

Hostile to Spencer’s application of natural selection to society.

JDH on J. E. Gray’s views on collecting.

JDH collecting Wedgwood ware.

Summary

Discusses Stellaria and other plants said to be dimorphic.

Asks for plants he wants for experiments.

Preparing a little book on Orchids.