To William Herbert [c. 1 April 1839]
Summary
Questions on breeding of plants: variation in established versus new varieties; predominance of wild species and old varieties when crossed with newer forms; predominance of males versus females; correlations between ease of hybridisation and tendency to vary and undergo cultivation; reversion; correlations between hybridisation and geographic distribution.
In WH’s Amaryllidaceae [1837], does he intend to say crossing is inimical to fertility?
[Sent via J. S. Henslow; note to amanuensis Syms Covington.]
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | William Herbert, dean of Manchester |
| Date: | [c. 1 Apr 1839] |
| Classmark: | DAR 185: 62 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-502 |
To William Herbert 26 June 1839
Summary
CD is led to believe there are no true permanently inbreeding, sexually reproducing beings. Thanks for replies to breeding questions.
Asks for clarification of Hippeastrum crosses: is selfing or crossing with individual of same species intended and was increased fertility due to constitution of foreign parent or due to the pollen coming from another plant? Has WH known any hybrid or mongrel to revert or to vary in a manner unlikely to be effect of soil?
Sends Journal of researches.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | William Herbert, dean of Manchester |
| Date: | 26 June 1839 |
| Classmark: | DAR 185: 65–6 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-523 |
From William Herbert [c. 27 June 1839]
Summary
Rejects necessity of outbreeding and any general law of reversion.
Describes further experiments with Hippeastrum showing greater fertility with foreign pollen than with individual’s own pollen or with pollen from another individual of same species.
Does not believe CD’s questions about reversion can be answered in present state of knowledge.
| Author: | William Herbert, dean of Manchester |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | [c. 27 June 1839] |
| Classmark: | DAR 185: 67 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-524 |
| Darwin, C. R. | (2) |
| Herbert, William | (1) |
| Herbert, William | (2) |
| Darwin, C. R. | (1) |
| 1839 | (3) |
