Remembers JDH’s encouragement when he was "utterly weary of life".
Marvellous about European forms in Fernando Po.
C. V. Naudin will publish a book on hybridity ["Nouvelles recherches sur l’hybridité dans les végétaux", Nouv. Arch. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris 1 (1865): 25–176; part also in Ann. Sci. Nat. (Bot.) (1863)].
CD fears Naudin has underestimated distribution of pollen by insects.
Melastomatous plants are ready for his work on meaning of two sets of anthers.
Very curious about Masdevallia.
George [Darwin] observing orchids.
Adaptation of Herminium beats almost every other orchid.