Summary

The debt of plant geography to voyages may be JDH’s topic at BAAS meeting [at Swansea].

Photographs from New Zealand forwarded.

Summary

Letter of introduction for V. O. Kovalevsky.

Summary

Island life continues to stimulate: Wallace ignores effects of glaciers on alpine flora and generally exaggerates those of débâcles and wind dispersal. CD encourages JDH to prepare a geographical address including history of geographical distribution.

Summary

Has struggled for months with complexity of structure and distribution of palms for Genera plantarum.

Summary

CD complains of discomfort, but has not the strength for a project that would let him forget it.

Summary

At 63 JDH still works hard to support his family. Many friends have died. Memories of times past spent with CD lift his pessimism.

Summary

Cheered by JDH’s friendly words.

Wishes he could help JDH with geographical distribution, but the subject has gone out of his mind.

Summary

Outlines address to York BAAS meeting on history of geographical distribution. Organising theme: advancement in this science based on ideas enunciated by scientific voyagers. Asks CD’s advice.

Summary

Responds to JDH’s outline history of plant geography.

Considers Humboldt the "greatest scientific traveller who ever lived".

Discusses the origin and rapid radiation of angiosperms in Cretaceous period.

Comments on importance of work of Alphonse de Candolle, Saporta, Axel Blytt.

Summary

Working on York BAAS address; finds CD’s comments helpful. JDH writes detailed response and expansion.

Summary

Responds to JDH on history of plant geography.

Opinion of Humboldt.

Origin of higher phanerogams.

Importance of the occurrence of south temperate forms in the Northern Hemisphere.

Summary

Is making final preparations for his address [at York BAAS meeting] and questions CD on specific points.

Summary

No one could have thought about evolution and not about representative species; yet no one discussed it fully until Origin, including von Baer.

Did not know of Leopold von Buch’s Description physique des îles Canaries [1836] when Origin was published.

"As far as I know no one ever discussed the meaning of the relation between representative species before I did & as I suppose Wallace did in his paper before the Linn. Soc. [1858]."

Summary

Condolences on death of CD’s brother Erasmus. Recalls first meeting CD in Erasmus’ rooms over 40 years ago.

Summary

Erasmus’ death and CD’s sentiments on death.

Summary

Praises JDH’s York address.

S. B. J. Skertchly has paralleled Axel Blytt’s work in Cambridgeshire fens.

JDH too cautious on southern glacial period.

Is Kew interested in Azores plants collected by Arruda Furtado, a local inhabitant and an evolutionist?

Summary

Comte de Paris requests an orchid from CD for his huge collection.

JDH responds to CD’s criticism of York address.

Arruda Furtado could work on mystery of buried cypress trunks in the Azores.

Summary

Comte [de Paris] will have plants next summer.

Arruda Furtado will send his mountain plants from Azores.

Summary

Visiting his son Horace.

Studying action of carbonate of ammonia. Finds similar looking Euphorbia root cells react differently.

Intrigued by Dischidia rafflesiana, whose pitchers manufacture manure-water that nourishes adventitious roots. Does JDH know histologist for detailed study?

Julius von Wiesner’s criticism of Movement in plants "vivisects" CD in "a most courteous but awful manner" [Das Bewegungsvermögen der Pflanzen (1881)].

Summary

Pleasure in reading Earthworms.

Buying land to build a cottage.

Finishing palms for Genera plantarum after three years’ work.