Thanks CD for copy of Movement in plants and says he is enjoying it. Is pleased that a full article appeared in the Times. Will go to Beaulieu soon for worm casts. His gardener calls worms “our civil engineers”. Promised to tell Frank how to make plants bend.
Admires Wallace’s Island life.
Criticises: 1. His view of similar plants on distant mountains – CD prefers previous low-land connections to Wallace’s summit–summit dispersal;
2. Source of warmth for ancient Arctic climate;
3. Origin of S. Australian flora.
CD’s favourite cases in Movement in plants.
Has learned of death of Sarah Elizabeth Wedgwood, former proprietor of Tromer Lodge, and writes about his deceased father’s earlier attempts to purchase this property. Requests information on any future transfer of it.
WTT-D’s suggestion about absorbent function of pegs in Abronia suggests origin of pegs in Welwitschia, which deeply interests CD. Previously could not see how pegs became large enough to be of mechanical use. Now thinks tissue between hypocotyl and radicle absorbs fluid, which would favour rise of peg to expose larger surface.
Rejects German contempt for investigating use of organs.
Asks WTT-D to observe how worms draw Robinia leaves into burrows.
Discusses GHD’s ripple theory. Asks him how they are formed.
Delighted to hear that light is dawning in GHD’s eyes on the planetary system.
Wishes to read CD’s books; will not do so without an assurance of CD’s faith in the New Testament.
He has proved that heat is generated by the exudation of oxygen from roots, and that there is continuous electrical action from leaves to roots.
Finds CD was correct in Variation: hybrid bees tend to sting more often than pure-bred bees.
Preparing a second edition of the chapter on the origin of cultivated plants in his Géographie botanique. The work done since 1855 confirms his opinions.
Asks WED to observe whether worms consistently draw acacia leaves into their burrows with a particular end first.
Will soon know whether he will need worm-castings from Beaulieu.
CD may not mean same thing as WTT-D by absorbent pegs in Abronia.
F. O. Bower’s paper on Welwitschia [germination] [Q. J. Microsc. Sci. 21 (1881): 15–30] will appear in January.
Has observed earthworms for CD: they do not draw Robinia leaves into burrows by the petioles.
Wants information on Fritz Müller’s papers bearing on Weismann’s work.
CD does "not believe in the Bible as a divine revelation".
Announces proposal to make CD an Honorary Member of La Scuola Italica.
Asks GEM to thank La Scuola Italica for the honour conferred upon him.
References to Fritz Müller’s papers relevant to Weismann’s Studien [in Kosmos (Aug, Sept, and Oct 1877)].
Will be pleased to have VOK come to Down any day.
Thanks for Movement in plants.
Describes work [on Pflanzenphysiologie, 2 vols. (1881)].
Sends his book [Naturwissenschaftliche Thatsachen und Probleme. Populäre Vorträge (1880)].
Anxious to receive Movement in plants because CD’s methods may be applicable to his experiments on the earliest movements of animal embryos.
Thanks for his great work on prehistoric remains in Portugal and his paper on Tertiary formations.
Praise for Movement in plants.
He thinks G. A. Chatin, whom CD quotes [p. 389], is mistaken about movement of conifer leaves. Cites his own paper ["Relations between morphology and physiology in the leaves of certain conifers", J. Linn. Soc. Lond. (Bot.) 17 (1880): 547–52].