Summary

FD’s abstract ["Physiology of plants", Nature 23 (1880): 178–81] is excellent, and as clear as daylight.

Summary

Comments on papers by Francis Darwin.

Suggests methods for growing seedlings for experiments involving light.

Comments on GJR’s observations on monkey.

Summary

John Tyndall has provided apparatus for experiment with light.

Frank [Darwin]’s paper a brilliant success [J. Linn. Soc. Lond. (Bot.) 18: 406–19, 420–55. Read 16 Dec].

Has got a monkey for observation.

Summary

Will stay until London until after the Linnean Society meeting unless CD wants anything. Asks to send abstracts of papers. Has made short abstracts of papers for Nature.

Summary

Quality of Frank’s work merits F.R.S., but quantity could defer speedy election. Will advise best strategy.

Summary

On Wallace’s pension and Frank’s F.R.S.

Summary

Wants WED to collect some worm-castings from Beaulieu Abbey.

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

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

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

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

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.

Summary

Sorry he forgot the gardener’s address. Having a very nice time in Cambridge, and is almost finished the bramble paper. Drawing room is upside down, so living in Horace’s working room and dining room. Greek question was lost in the Senate House. George dined there last night. Too muddy to bicycle. Has some stuff for spectacles.

Summary

The article [Francis Darwin, "Climbing plants"] has appeared in Popular Science Review [n.s. 4 (1880): 213–29].

Asks CD to allow John [Richard de Capel] Wise to dedicate a poem to him.

Summary

Returns book [W. O. Focke, Pflanzen-Mischlinge]. It was of great use.

Suggests experiment involving light stimulation of plants.