Summary

Some papers have arrived for FD.

Comments on the work of Phillipe van Tieghem who evidently knows nothing of insectivorous plants.

Leslie Stephen’s visit to Down went off well.

Summary

Instructs FD to make some observations on movement in Trifolium and Impatiens. Sends some seeds to be sown.

Summary

Instructions to sow some seeds

and suggestions for experiment on effects of removal of bloom.

Likes Hugo de Vries very much; has hardly ever seen so modest a man.

Summary

Sends further chapters of Earthworms for correction.

Summary

Looks to FD’s "grand discovery" as almost certain. Suggests observations.

Summary

FD’s experiment shows that caustic does not interfere with the bending of radicles. Believes that the apex is a kind of brain for certain movements, being specialised to receive certain irritations.

Summary

Has been reading Julius von Wiesner’s book [Das Bewegungsvermögen der Pflanzen (1881)]. Comments that it is "an excellent book, but he vivisects me in the most grievous terms, but most effectively".

Has been experimenting on aggregation of chlorophyll but with little success.

Summary

Notes observations on sensitivity and movement of radicles.

Has finished chapter [of Movement in plants] on sleeping plants and is now looking over heliotropism notes.

Is perplexed by Erasmus Darwin; Erasmus [A. Darwin] likes it, but Henrietta thinks it much too long.

Summary

Tells arrangements for their journey to Coniston.

Summary

Has accepted FD’s correction to chapter seven [of Earthworms].

Weather is bad; sky like lead and the lake as black as ink.

Summary

Asks FD to reply to a letter [11653a] requesting a list of CD’s books.

Summary

Describes sleep movements in Porlieria and his experiments on movements of radicles.

Thalia flowers have interesting mechanism to ensure cross-fertilisation.

Summary

Suggests German works worth translating.

Is glad FD is keeping busy; he has worked excellently on proof-sheets [of Orchids (1877)].

Summary

Sends last chapter of Orchids [1877] for revision.

Has some articles that might interest FD.

Has invited Ferdinand Cohn and his wife to Down but hopes they will not come.

Summary

Has been examining Utricularia minor. Same essential structure but catches smaller Entomostraca. One bladder had 24, another 20, and another 15 Entomostraca. "What slaughter! We must make out the functions of the beast––".

Summary

Has been observing the movements of leaves and cotyledons; sleep movements are exaggerated circumnutation. Reports some odd observations on movement in Oxalis species.

Summary

Requests some seeds.

Believes the leaves of Phyllanthus sleep like those of Cassia.

Summary

Comments on FD’s notions about movement of multicellular and unicellular organisms.

Comments on an interesting letter received from J. B. Hannay [see 13222] which leads CD to speculate on the possibility of organisms inhabiting a red hot earth under great pressure.

Summary

Are there old furrowed fields on hillsides in N. Wales, if so can FD look for earthworm activity?

Summary

Comments on the response to Movement in plants, which seems to have been successful.

Is going over revises of Earthworms.

Is investigating further his notion that leaves align themselves in the rain so as to shoot off drops of water.