Summary

Forgot to thank CD for his praise of tendril paper [see 4944].

Summary

Wrote to J. B. E. Bornet on CD’s behalf, declining the offer of seeds of Draba. But now Bornet writes that he is sending seeds to CD anyway [see 5592].

Corrects his previous description of the fertilisation of Indigofera.

Summary

CD believes most strongly in reversion. J. G. Kölreuter’s, K. F. v Gärtner’s, and some of Charles Naudin’s cases leave no doubt in his mind. Forgets whether Herbert gave cases but in conversation he certainly believed in it. Thinks Gärtner is right to say reversion occurs only rarely in plant hybrids which have not been cultivated. [See 5120.]

Variation

Summary

Floral structure. The order of the development of the whorls and its relationship to a protandrous or protogynous condition in flowers.

Summary

Pleased CD confirms his observations on Salvia.

Spring action of Medicago stamens described.

Summary

Sends information from a Kent sheep-breeder.

Summary

Sends proofs [of "On hybridization among plants", Pop. Sci. Rev. 5 (1866): 304–13].

Regrets delay in returning CD’s books.

Encourages CD to make "disparaging remarks".

Summary

Thanks for criticism of proofs of his paper [see 5117].

Not sure whether CD believes in reversion and would like a positive statement as this is the one point C. V. Naudin especially observed. Naudin offers his remarks on ovules as a matter to be proved ["Nouvelles recherches sur l’hybridité", Nouv. Arch. Mus. Hist. Nat. 1 (1865): 25–176].

Summary

Cannot come to Down on weekend because of teaching duties.

Summary

Is obliged to receive FH’s papers. The cases of Lopezia and Schizanthus are new to him.

In 1860 CD watched Bombus lapidarius sucking the flowers of Pedicularis sylvatica and saw what FH has described.

Has not yet read the paper on Salvia.

Summary

Thanks for CD’s book [Cross and self-fertilisation] and information on protandry and protogyny.

Health better, but paralysis lingers.

Summary

Embryology of plants of low systematic order. Comparative development begins only with first post-cotyledonary leaves.

Curt letter to JDH from George Henslow.

Summary

Sends Catalogue [of the collection of fossils in the Museum of Practical Geology (1865)], most of which was written in pre-Darwinian epoch [i.e., 1857].

Hears magnum opus [Variation] completely developed, though not yet born.

Summary

Returns proofs of GH’s paper ["On hybridization among plants", Pop. Sci. Rev. 5 (1866): 304–13] with his criticisms. Prefers that GH not state that CD has read the proofs.

Does C. V. Naudin really say that ovules (not seed) of hybrid Luffa and Cucumis are imperfect?

Summary

Refers GH to vol. 2, p. 431 of Variation for the "perplexed conclusion" at which CD has arrived on variation and design. Has nothing to add to this statement.

Summary

Reports the results of an experiment to compare the weight of seeds produced in plants of [Medicago sativa] by self-pollination and by insect pollination.

Summary

Has altered paper according to CD’s comments.

Returns books.

Summary

Thanks for a paper on phyllotaxy.

Summary

Disagrees with GH over the value of cross-fertilisation.

Summary

CD will be proposed for the Copley Medal. Hugh Falconer wants information: list of all CD’s papers, dates of the voyage, things not judicious to mention, when his sickness came on, etc.