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From John Scott   24 February 1877

Summary

Thanks for Cross and self-fertilisation.

His work on poppy varieties confirms increased vigour with crossing.

JS is carrying out opium poppy experiments CD suggested. He is busy with opium duties. Observing many fields of poppies, day and night, JS finds them remarkably free of insects. Believes they are wind-pollinated and that varieties have prepotent pollen since he has shown they do not cross naturally.

Plans to send a paper on Cyclosis to Linnean Society.

Author:  John Scott
Addressee:  Charles Robert Darwin
Date:  24 Feb 1877
Classmark:  DAR 177: 122
Letter no:  DCP-LETT-10864

From John Scott   12 April 1877

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Summary

Comments on various species of Lagerstroemia.

In the series of opium poppy intercrosses made at CD’s suggestion, JS has learned that the reason they failed to intercross was the absence of insects at the period of their flowering.

Author:  John Scott
Addressee:  Charles Robert Darwin
Date:  12 Apr 1877
Classmark:  DAR 47: 207–9
Letter no:  DCP-LETT-10928

From John Scott   11 November 1862

Summary

CD is mistaken in considering Acropera unisexual, with only male flowers [Orchids, pp. 203–10]. JS has successfully fertilised two A. loddigesii flowers. One is ripening. Dissection of the other shows the pollen accomplishes fertilisation without contacting any stigmatic surface. Abortive ovules found in flowers that did not become fertilised when pollinated. JS suggests Acropera has both unisexual male and hermaphrodite flowers.

Author:  John Scott
Addressee:  Charles Robert Darwin
Date:  11 Nov 1862
Classmark:  DAR 177: 77
Letter no:  DCP-LETT-3800

From John Scott   15 November [1862]

Summary

Appreciates CD’s acknowledging his letter and his comments on Acropera. Will send CD the Acropera capsule which is now maturing.

Experimenting on vegetable parthenogenesis.

Structure of Acropera.

Author:  John Scott
Addressee:  Charles Robert Darwin
Date:  15 Nov [1862]
Classmark:  DAR 177: 78
Letter no:  DCP-LETT-3808

From John Scott   [20 November – 2 December 1862]

Summary

JS does not fully accept natural selection.

Has never raised oxlips from cowslips or primroses; reports of such must be cases of crossing.

Discusses relative fertility of varieties, self-fertility of hybrids, and plans for experiments on enhanced hybrid fertility.

Author:  John Scott
Addressee:  Charles Robert Darwin
Date:  [20 Nov – 2 Dec 1862]
Classmark:  DAR 177: 79
Letter no:  DCP-LETT-3815

From John Scott   6 December [1862]

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Summary

JS not ready to publish on Primula.

Some of his objections to natural selection are based on belief that plants with separate sexes are less variable than those in which sexes are confluent (as in ferns).

Sends his paper on fern varieties [Edinburgh New Philos. J. 2d ser. 16 (1862): 209–27].

Will soon read paper on Drosera irritability [Edinburgh New Philos. J. 2d ser. 17 (1863): 317–18].

How does CD explain capricious distribution of irritability among plants?

P. scotica’s non-dimorphism is native.

Beginning Laelia experiments shortly.

Author:  John Scott
Addressee:  Charles Robert Darwin
Date:  6 Dec [1862]
Classmark:  DAR 108: 182a–d
Letter no:  DCP-LETT-3847

From John Scott   17 December [1862]

Summary

Thanks for Journal of researches and Origin.

Thanks CD for comments on his fern paper [see 3847 and 3853]; has great difficulty in expressing his ideas.

Discusses inheritance and variation.

Asks CD for an account of the experiments he would like JS to perform.

Author:  John Scott
Addressee:  Charles Robert Darwin
Date:  17 Dec [1862]
Classmark:  DAR 177: 80
Letter no:  DCP-LETT-3865

From John Scott   6 January 1863

Summary

Sends Primula scotica and P. farinosa.

So far cannot fertilise Gongora atropurpurea although it is similar to Acropera luteola.

Experimenting on intergeneric hybrids to test CD’s view that sterility is not a special endowment.

Scott’s personal history.

Acropera capsule grows.

Plans for experiments CD has suggested on Primula, peloric Antirrhinum, and Verbascum.

Asks about Gärtner’s experiments on maize.

Aware of Anderson-Henry’s failures.

Through kindness of J. H. Balfour and James McNab, enjoys facilities for research. JS is in charge of the propagating department. Balfour almost engaged him to be superintendent of the Madras Horticultural Garden.

Author:  John Scott
Addressee:  Charles Robert Darwin
Date:  6 Jan 1863
Classmark:  DAR 177: 81, 83
Letter no:  DCP-LETT-3904

From John Scott   16 January 1863

Summary

Experiments to cut Laelia stigma from rostellum and then to fertilise rostellum are baffled by "a latent instinctive power". Somehow the pollen-tubes find their way to the style.

Suggests CD study variation in ferns.

Author:  John Scott
Addressee:  Charles Robert Darwin
Date:  16 Jan 1863
Classmark:  DAR 177: 82
Letter no:  DCP-LETT-3921

From John Scott   18 February [1863]

Summary

Sends Acropera capsule for CD to dissect.

Will try to raise Acropera from seed (never done before in Britain) to examine its sexual forms.

Studying primroses, parthenogenesis, and reproduction of some cryptogams.

Received maize varieties from CD.

Author:  John Scott
Addressee:  Charles Robert Darwin
Date:  18 Feb [1863]
Classmark:  DAR 177: 84
Letter no:  DCP-LETT-3997

From John Scott   3 March 1863

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Summary

JS criticises natural selection as based on an innate "continuously watchful selective principle".

Seeks seed of wild Rocky Mountain maize.

What is CD’s view on origin of maize?

Seeks information on self-sterility of Passiflora and Lobelia.

Weeping habit of trees.

Intended to say bisexual plants presented more established varieties than unisexual, not that they are more variable.

Explains his opinion that homomorphically fertilised Primula will produce only their own form. Is trying homomorphic crosses with different coloured Primula varieties.

Asks to read Asa Gray’s 2d review of Orchids.

Has finally successfully fertilised Gongora, but it was done by unnatural means.

Author:  John Scott
Addressee:  Charles Robert Darwin
Date:  3 Mar 1863
Classmark:  DAR 108: 179
Letter no:  DCP-LETT-4021

From John Scott   21 March [1863]

Summary

Thanks for CD’s answers on Passiflora

and Asa Gray review.

Has observed gradation of sterility in Oncidium species.

Has observed rostellar germination and fertilisation in Laelia. The latter was prevented in Bletia by covering the stigma with plaster of Paris.

Gongora atropurpurea capsules are swelling.

Author:  John Scott
Addressee:  Charles Robert Darwin
Date:  21 Mar [1863]
Classmark:  DAR 177: 85
Letter no:  DCP-LETT-4055

From John Scott   [1–11] April [1863]

Summary

Studying self-sterility, particularly in Oncidium, where abortion occurs consistently but stigma functions normally. His hybrid orchid crosses show sterility occurs capriciously. Thus it is not a "special endowment".

Disputes Asa Gray’s and Hermann Crüger’s view of rostellar germination.

Doubts absolute sterility of Catasetum.

Disappointed by results with homomorphic cowslips.

Author:  John Scott
Addressee:  Charles Robert Darwin
Date:  [1–11] Apr [1863]
Classmark:  DAR 108: 183, DAR 177: 86 (fragile)
Letter no:  DCP-LETT-4073

From John Scott   [after 12] April [1863]

Summary

Thanks for CD’s Linum paper [Collected papers 2: 93–105].

Has not published much because he would be ignored as a gardener; hence he is looking for a foreign appointment.

Has prepared orchid sterility paper at CD’s suggestion [Trans. Bot. Soc. Edinburgh 7 (1863): 543–50].

Author:  John Scott
Addressee:  Charles Robert Darwin
Date:  [after 12] Apr [1863]
Classmark:  DAR 177: 87
Letter no:  DCP-LETT-4087

From John Scott   21 May [1863]

Summary

Supports, in his orchid paper, CD’s view that sterility occurs at random [Trans. Bot. Soc. Edinburgh 7 (1863): 543–50].

Cannot get his Drosera paper published [abstract in Edinburgh New Philos. J. 2d ser. 17 (1863): 317–18].

Author:  John Scott
Addressee:  Charles Robert Darwin
Date:  21 May [1863]
Classmark:  DAR 108: 181, DAR 177: 88
Letter no:  DCP-LETT-4174

From John Scott   [26 July – 2 August 1863]

Summary

His orchid paper limited because he does not give illustrations from distinct genera.

Discusses the self- and cross-fertility of coloured primrose varieties. Thanks CD for tables of unpublished Primula work.

Author:  John Scott
Addressee:  Charles Robert Darwin
Date:  [26 July – 2 Aug 1863]
Classmark:  DAR 177: 89
Letter no:  DCP-LETT-4175

From John Scott   22 May 1863

Summary

J. H. Balfour has arranged a position for him at a Cinchona nursery. Reluctant to take this position in part because of his experiments for CD.

Asks CD’s advice and solicits his aid in finding a better colonial position. James McNab mistreats him.

Author:  John Scott
Addressee:  Charles Robert Darwin
Date:  22 May 1863
Classmark:  DAR 177: 90
Letter no:  DCP-LETT-4177

From John Scott   26 May [1863]

Summary

Discusses Darjeeling position. Thanks CD for advice.

Will send orchid paper [see 4087].

Author:  John Scott
Addressee:  Charles Robert Darwin
Date:  26 May [1863]
Classmark:  DAR 177: 91
Letter no:  DCP-LETT-4187

From John Scott   28 May [1863]

Summary

Sends abstract from Edinburgh Courant of his orchid sterility paper [see 4087]. Balfour altered title to obscure its theoretical nature.

Sends specimens showing curious variation.

Author:  John Scott
Addressee:  Charles Robert Darwin
Date:  28 May [1863]
Classmark:  DAR 177: 92
Letter no:  DCP-LETT-4190

From John Scott   [3 June 1863]

Summary

Thanks CD for influence used with Hooker to obtain a colonial position. Has offended J. H. Balfour by refusing the Darjeeling post and James McNab has become unfriendly, although his experiments do not detract from his garden work.

Will write Primula paper for Linnean Society as CD suggests.

His Darwinism is unpalatable at Edinburgh Botanic Garden.

Describes results with non-dimorphic Primula species. Such cases do not accord with CD’s view that characters are slowly acquired.

Thanks for criticism of his writing style.

Author:  John Scott
Addressee:  Charles Robert Darwin
Date:  [3 June 1863]
Classmark:  DAR 177: 93
Letter no:  DCP-LETT-4202
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