Summary

Sends CD Dr Wood’s lecture on insectivorous plants.

Had no intention of antagonising CD with his observations on Linum; was anxious to account for its apparently different behaviour.

Summary

Credits himself with stimulating most of the American work on plant cross-fertilisation. Sends his review of Cross and self-fertilisation [in Penn Monthly (June 1877)]. Suggests CD, A. Gray, and TM now agree on the extent of self-fertilisation in nature.

Summary

There has been talk in American papers of CD’s admitting he was wrong about hybrid sterility. TM has presented CD’s views in the New York Independent.

Summary

Suggests plants whose stamens show movement.

Summary

Sends CD some remarks he made before the Academy of Natural Sciences [Philadelphia].

TM is indebted to the Origin for first suggesting to him which observations might be useful to those working out the greater laws of nature.

Summary

Although he believes in evolution, TM feels that natural selection is an inadequate cause;

nor is he satisfied with E. D. Cope’s law of acceleration and retardation.

Discusses some of his work relating to nutrition and sex and colour and sex.

Summary

Sends CD his photo

and a copy of his address at Hartford ["Change by gradual modification not the universal law", Proc. Am. Assoc. Adv. Sci. (1874) pt 2: 7–12]. Does not believe his observations are unfavourable to natural selection but feels there are other factors involved in the origin of form.

Discusses further his work on colour and sex in plants; the linking of high colour and maleness.