To Asa Gray 31 May [1863]
Summary
AG’s review of Alphonse de Candolle’s paper [Am. J. Sci. 2d ser. 35 (1863): 430–44] is excellent.
Does not AG consider that orchids oppose Oswald Heer’s view that species arise suddenly by monstrosities?
Infers that AG cannot explain the angles of phyllotaxy; has been looking at Carl Nägeli on the subject.
Reports Gaston de Saporta’s belief that natural selection will ultimately triumph in France.
Is working slowly at Variation.
Reports his observations on the imperfect flowers of Viola and Oxalis.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Asa Gray |
| Date: | 31 May [1863] |
| Classmark: | Gray Herbarium of Harvard University (84) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-4196 |
To Asa Gray 20 April [1863]
Summary
Fears England and U. S. will drift into war; he and AG must "keep to Science".
Thanks for facts on Incas; regrets he has always avoided the case of man.
Has sent his Linum paper [Collected papers 2: 93–105].
Is it true that Ohio has legislated against marriage of cousins?
Can AG explain the invariable angles in phyllotaxy; are they the consequence of packing in the early bud?
Owen’s comments on heterogeny in the Athenæum [28 Mar 1863] have vexed W. B. Carpenter; CD has replied [Collected papers 2: 78–80].
Hopes AG will observe Gymnadenia; John Scott has been experimenting on its fertilisation.
Gives his observation on pollination of Cypripedium.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Asa Gray |
| Date: | 20 Apr [1863] |
| Classmark: | Gray Herbarium of Harvard University (51) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-4110 |
Matches: 2 hits
- … 10–20 June [1862] and this volume, letter to Asa Gray, 2 January [1863] and n. 7. The reference is to Arthur Rawson (see letters from Arthur Rawson , 1 April [1863] and [6 April 1863] ). CD’s note describing this experiment, dated 12 …
- … 12 April 1863] , and letter from Daniel Oliver, 14 April 1863 . After reading Gray’s observations of American species of Cypripedium in A. Gray 1862a , pp. 427–8, CD examined specimens and their pollination by bees. CD confessed that he had not thought of ‘insects crawling into flower’ (see Correspondence vol. 10, …
To Asa Gray 19 January [1863]
Summary
Comments on his own review of Bates’s butterfly paper [Collected papers 2: 87–92].
Thanks AG for information on Platanthera.
Has been wasting more time with Melastomataceae; can find no nectar in Monochaetum; is there any in Rhexia?
Hopes Lincoln’s "fiat against Slavery" will have some effect.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Asa Gray |
| Date: | 19 Jan [1863] |
| Classmark: | Gray Herbarium of Harvard University (57) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-3927 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … 10, letter from Asa Gray, 29 December 1862 , and letter to Asa Gray, 6 November 1862 . Gray’s reference to glucose and starch has not been found, but see the letter to John Scott, 16 February [1863] . Gray was one of the editors of the American Journal of Science and Arts , and had offered to ask Samuel Steman Haldeman to review Bates 1861 for the journal (see letter to H. W. Bates, 12 …
To Asa Gray 20 March [1863]
Summary
Discusses the meaning of C. K. Sprengel’s term "dichogamy". Dichogamous plants are functionally monoecious; Primula is functionally dioecious.
Reports Hermann Crüger’s observations of Cattleya and of bees pollinating Catasetum. Crüger will observe Melastomataceae.
Has built a hothouse.
Fears Amsinckia cannot be dimorphic.
Ill health slows his work on Variation.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Asa Gray |
| Date: | 20 Mar [1863] |
| Classmark: | Gray Herbarium of Harvard University (58) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-4053 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … 10–20 June [1862] and 26[–7] November [1862] , and letters from Asa Gray , 18–19 August 1862 and 29 December 1862 ). Gray evidently discussed Bates 1861 in a letter to CD written on 9 February 1863 that has not been found; CD quoted Gray’s comments in a letter to Henry Walter Bates of 4 March [1863] . Bates sent a copy of his paper to Gray in January, after CD had persuaded Gray to attempt to have it reviewed in the American Journal of Science and Arts , of which he was one of the contributing editors (see letter to H. W. Bates, 12 …
