Hearty thanks for the two bottles of pure water.

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

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

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

Sends analysis of burnt and unburnt samples.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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?

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.

Hopes to meet Dresser and his guest, N. A. Severtsov, on returning to Down.

On the "doubtful & obscure" subject of marriage of cousins, CD believes, that judging from the analogy of animals, no direct evil would follow from their marriage. He would, however, expect the offspring of unrelated parents to be somewhat superior in size and vigour. The injury from the increase of any bad tendency common to the family seems to CD more to be feared than mere consanguinity; "the good effects of crossing distinct families I look at as great & undoubted".

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.]

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.

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

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.]

Will follow EF’s suggestions as to securing purity of fibrin.

Is sending washings of 445 leaves in EF’s distilled water with 20 grains of carbonate of soda. Details of the difficulties and complications involved.