He is surveying the literature on the struggle for existence among pasture plants. Asks CD for the "many cases on record" of changed relations among plants under slightly changed conditions alluded to in the Origin. [See M. T. Masters, J. B. Lawes and J. M. Gilbert "Agricultural, botanical, and chemical results of experiments on the mixed herbage of permanent meadow, conducted for more than twenty years in succession on the same land (pt 2, The botanical results)", Philos. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. 173 (1883): 1181–413.]

In response to CD’s query, answers that he has frequently heard discussions at the Horticultural Society of a saccharine secretion from leaves of the lime and has no doubt it really does occur. [See Cross and self-fertilisation, p. 402.]

Sends the name of a plant: Cotyledon stolonifera.

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].

He has only an uncertain memory of the placement of stamens in the [monstrous?] primrose CD asked about.

Thanks for Orchids.

Will be sending information on peloric plants from his father [William Masters] soon.

Thanks CD for specimens which show that an abnormality in one genus is normal in another, which bears on CD’s views on descent.

Explains several monstrous flowers sent by CD.

MTM heard part of the abstract of CD’s paper on climbing plants, read at the Linnean Society on 2 Feb. Offers CD his opinion and information on the subject, which he has studied for many years.

Will forward Robert Caspary’s paper to CD when it is published ["Sur les hybrides obtenus par la greffe", Bull. Congr. Int. Bot. & Hortic. Amsterdam (1865): 65–80].

MTM is to become editor of Gardeners’ Chronicle.

He will soon take over editorship of Gardeners’ Chronicle and hopes for CD’s continued support.

Thanks CD for his specimen of "self-containedness". Some of the bromeliads will flower under similar treatment, but MTM does not know whether they seed.

As Honorary Secretary of the Botanical Congress he asks that CD’s name be listed as a member of its committee.

Expects R. Caspary’s paper to be published soon.

Reports the conclusions of another of RC’s papers on the movement of tree branches due to cold [Bull. Congr. Int. Bot. & Hortic. Lond. (1866): 98–117]

and discusses a paper by H. Lecoq on the mountain flora of the Auvergne [Proc. Bot. Congr. (1866): 158–65]. He disagrees with CD on glaciation and its effect on geographical distribution.

Forwards some plant specimens to CD for his comments.

MTM did not write Gardeners’ Chronicle review of Variation [(1868): 184].

Encloses letters supporting a project [Botanical Congress?] to promote horticulture, and hopes CD will reconsider giving his support.

Thanks for Emanuel Bonavia’s letter on a Laburnum monster.

After examining a basket of piebald potatoes he does believe them to be a graft-hybrid as Friedrich Hildebrand might suggest.

Sends CD another piebald potato and a spray of holly, from Mr Fish, discussed in Gardeners’ Chronicle of 22 Jan [1869, p. 83].