Wants some apheliotropic plants for experiments.

Thanks for gift of bananas.

Thanks for cotton seeds.

Germination of Megarrhiza.

Suspects WTT-D is the author of a good review of Erasmus Darwin in Nature [21 (1880): 245–7].

Asa Gray wants seeds of a variety of cotton known as vine cotton.

Pleasure at receiving CD’s scientific letters to JDH and Hodgson.

The H. Wedgwoods’ pecuniary loss.

Condolences at CD’s father’s death.

Rajah harasses JDH’s work. Lack of supplies, rain, malarial valleys, and landslips make going difficult. Cannot get into Tibet.

"Twenty species [of plants] here [Camp Sikkim] to one there [Tierra del Fuego?] always are asking me the vexed question, ""where do we come from?""."

From observation of terraces descending to steppes and plains of India, he thinks that the Himalayas were once a grand fiord coast.

Has information CD requested on Yangsma valley. JDH’s detailed hypothesis of origin of dam there. Does not agree with CD’s interpretation.

CD pleased to be of use to GB. He remembers his own work on orchids with pleasure. Thinks GB will be able to improve CD’s terminology for orchids.

CD partly right. JDH was calling "stratification" what CD calls "foliation". Answers CD’s question on cleavage foliation in Himalayas. Glacial action.

Charmed by CD’s Admiralty instructions on geology [in Manual of scientific enquiry (1849), Collected papers 1: 227–50], but complains he does not give prices of books and instruments he recommends.

Wants Ipomoea seeds for observing germination.

Plans to come to Cambridge to discuss Beagle voyage. Only difficulty is disposal of his collections. South Sea Islands now more probable.

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.

Thanks WJH for information about J. D. Hooker; CD was very anxious to hear something about his safety.

Asks GB to sign certificate for Francis Darwin [candidate for Royal Society].

Letter of introduction for V. O. Kovalevsky.

Wants plants with two sets of anthers of different colours. Fritz Müller letter [13041a] has made him wish to renew experiments and observations carried out 20 years ago.

Wants Monochaetum flowers for examination as he has forgotten the structure and cannot publish until he has repeated his observations and experiments.

Thanks for Monochaetum flowers; his old notes have now become intelligible.

About Francis Darwin’s application for election to [Royal] Society.

Wants Trifolium seed.

Has been rereading WTT-D’s letters on "bloom".

Wants a Clematis identified. Has been observing how earthworms drag down its petioles.