Summary

Hearty thanks for the two bottles of pure water.

Summary

Requests permission to call upon EF any morning from Saturday through Tuesday.

Summary

His samples of earth have been sent for analysis. EF has saved CD and his son from wasted experimenting.

Summary

Requests chemical analysis of sample of both natural and burnt soil.

Summary

Sends analysis of burnt and unburnt samples.

Summary

Gratitude for the invaluable assistance. Is disappointed that natural soil is richer than burnt. Problem of securing sufficient chemically pure soil to test growth of plants.

Summary

Asks whether he may call to discuss a chemico-physiological point.

Summary

Thanks for the Blue Book [Report to the Local Government Board on the water supplied to London].

Gives instructions for sending the pure water.

Has sent for the Wenham ice.

Enjoyed his talk with EF.

Summary

Fears that the promised bottle of pure water may have been despatched or stolen in passage. [See 11768a.]

Summary

Gives results of the experiments: the leaves in most cases make the water alkaline. It cannot be ammonia. He and his son, Francis, suspect potash, which is valued as a manure. Will be grateful for the analysis EF has offered.

Summary

May CD’s son send some bottles of water, in which Pelargonium leaves have been immersed, for more precise analysis of the potassium or other soluble ash? Can EF recommend a professional analyst to take on further experiments?

Summary

Asks EF to sign enclosed certificate if he thinks Raphael Meldola deserves being elected F.R.S. [See 13674.] Requests that his note with certificate be passed on to Norman Lockyer.

Summary

Will not support Raphael Meldola’s application to the Royal Society.

Summary

Seeks the assistance of a professional chemist in securing a qualitative analysis of the fluid secreted by the glands of Drosera which have the power of dissolving animal matter out of the bodies of insects. [See 8979.]

Summary

Sends sodium carbonate for Drosera experiments. Will try to determine what the solvent is.

Summary

Thanks EF for his offer of assistance. Could the viscid secretions [in glands of Drosera] contain pepsin? Will the sodium carbonate render the testing of organic matter difficult? [See 8979.] Will send the fluid in a fortnight.

Summary

Is going to Switzerland, so analysis of Drosera washings will be delayed. Agrees with CD that solvent is probably pepsin.

Summary

Agrees to delay sending the fluid [from the glands of Drosera] until early October. Will try suggestion about pepsin. [See 8981.]

Summary

Although CD’s experiments with pepsin were unsuccessful, he observed that the glands [of Drosera] as far as acid is concerned act just as the stomach of a mammal. Further experiments detailed. The secretion must contain something analogous to pepsin. [See 9062.]

Summary

CD’s discovery of acidity of Drosera secretion is interesting. EF explains how hydrochloric acid can be detected and identified. [See Insectivorous plants, p. 88.]