Summary

Supports Torbitt. Keenly aware of danger of growing crops from a single variety. Torbitt’s paper to Belfast BAAS meeting ["On the potato-disease", Rep. BAAS 44 (1874): 134] was sat upon.

Summary

Describes a post-mortem dissection of a chimpanzee’s brain. The several doctors who observed it were struck by its resemblance to the human brain.

Summary

Thanks for letter. Comments on SBJS’s research on Palaeolithic flint tools.

Summary

Thanks CD for his expression of interest in SBJS’s work. His researches on the age and divisions of the Palaeolithic period will be published soon by the Geological Survey [On the manufacture of gun-flints, the methods of excavating for flint, the age of Palaeolithic man, etc. (1879)].

Summary

Returns CD’s letter [11389] of which he has kept a copy.

Summary

Has been poorly.

Comments on goose with abnormal wing.

Summary

No use in thinking about Royal Agricultural Society. William Carruthers, botanist of Society, thinks attempt hopeless. T. H. Farrer and James Caird are thinking of application to Government. Makes suggestions about experiments [on potatoes].

Summary

Thanks for essays by ASW ["Experiments with turnip seeds", Trans. Bot. Soc. Edinburgh 13 (1876–9): 25–39, and a short notice, "Experiments in singling turnips"] and Aegilops seed.

Summary

Problems of continuing with his crossing experiments; financial help from CD.

Summary

As a believer in the existence of God from the evidence of nature, he is somewhat staggered by CD’s and Tyndall’s books. Asks CD to tell him whether the doctrine of descent of man destroys the evidence of the existence of a God looked at through natural phenomena.

Summary

CD’s gardener says not to sow onion seeds until middle of March. Should he risk sowing them at once?

Summary

Asks CD to explain why there are hermaphrodites.

Summary

Intends to translate Origin and Descent into Bohemian to be published at Prague; asks CD’s permission to do so.

Summary

Sends JDH a letter he has written supporting James Torbitt’s potato trials.

Summary

T. H. Farrer and James Caird think it would be less trouble to get subscription from rich agriculturists than from Government. CD thinks it utopian to hope to raise variety of potatoes from seed; must be propagated from tubers.

Summary

The strongest argument for the existence of God is the intuitive feeling that there must have been an intelligent beginner of the universe; "but then comes the doubt and difficulty whether such intuitions are trustworthy". CD is forced to leave the problem insoluble. "No man who does his duty has anything to fear, and may hope for whatever he earnestly desires."

Summary

Has written to Farrer in support of Torbitt’s grant.

Resistance of Liberian coffee to "fly" and susceptibility to fungus.

Summary

Sends FS some specimens of harvesting ants along with the observations of their habits made by Mary Treat. If the facts are new, he believes that Mrs Treat would be gratified by their being mentioned before the Entomological Society. [See 11422.]

Summary

Authorises publication of a Bohemian edition of Origin.

Summary

Sends MS of his paper, "On the coloration of flowers and fruits", filling a gap in CD’s theory relating to these structures, and asks for CD’s comments.

Plans a book on colour sense.