Showing 61–80 of 462 items
The Charles Darwin Collection
The Darwin Correspondence Project is publishing letters written by and to the naturalist Charles Darwin (1809–1882). Complete transcripts of letters are being made available through the Project’s website (www.darwinproject.ac.uk) after publication in the ongoing print edition of The Correspondence of Charles Darwin (Cambridge University Press 1985–). Metadata and summaries of all known letters (c. 15,000) appear in Ɛpsilon, and the full texts of available letters can also be searched, with links to the full texts.
Sends set of illustrations for Expression marked to show those that could be improved for a future edition.
Describes self- and cross-fertilisation experiments.
Asks JHG’s advice on setting up an experiment designed to test whether the cause of variation in cultivated plants lies in different substances absorbed from the soil when absorption is not interfered with by other plants in a state of nature. Can JHG suggest how he can get soil free of all the substances which plants naturally absorb?
Has received seeds of Cecropia peltata from Kew.
Has asked Hermann Müller to send copy of FM’s paper as soon as published.
Encloses statement of sales of Origin, Expression, Descent, and Insectivorous plants to 1 Feb 1876.
Has charged against CD’s account half the cost of old plates from Judd for Variation. When will plates for new edition be sent?
Insectivorous plants not selling well because of general depression in business.
Asks that the copy of Nature containing letter from Fritz Müller be forwarded to FM [see 10324].
RLT to review 2d ed. of Variation and write an article on Pangenesis.
Discussion of "Survival of the Fittest".
Herbert Spencer invented the term "survival of the fittest". CD used it but found "natural selection" more convenient.
He has often spoken of natural selection’s destruction of individuals which do not come up to "proper standards of structure", which comes to nearly the same thing as RLT’s suggested distinction.
Is putting together a natural history book for intelligent children [The puzzle of life (1877)]; would like CD’s opinion on the project in general and on the completed first chapter in particular.
Supports AN’s idea [of a natural history book for children].
Sends his autograph.
Comments on paper by HE [see 10328].
Regrowth of an amputated extra thumb.
Sends signed enclosure.
FG will hear of germination of peas in a few days.
Thanks RLT for his letter. CD took much trouble over his two cases [regrowth of amputated supernumerary digits, in Variation] but the evidence was shaky.
Discusses in detail how to prepare for experimental purposes a soil that lacks nutrients.
CD came to believe Drosera drew its nourishment from insects because it grows where no other plants survive. Doubts glands are modified stomata.
Suggests works by Grönland and Trécul.
Sends some cash to help WED with moving expenses.
Thanks for EAS’s paper, translated from its original German, Sur la formation et la division des cellules (Strasburger 1876a).
Sends advice on preparing and washing soil in preparation for CD’s experiments.
Recounts family trait of excessive orderliness
and the behaviour of his dog.
