Describes seeds sent by George Payne [see 13205]. Is surprised that they bury themselves.
Showing 21–38 of 38 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.
Describes seeds sent by George Payne [see 13205]. Is surprised that they bury themselves.
Ernst Haeckel wants to go to Ceylon to examine Medusae and Radiolariae, CD has offered him £100.
Is working on revises of Earthworms.
Has seen a pied flycatcher for the first time.
Comments on FD’s notions about movement of multicellular and unicellular organisms.
Comments on an interesting letter received from J. B. Hannay [see 13222] which leads CD to speculate on the possibility of organisms inhabiting a red hot earth under great pressure.
Comments on the response to Movement in plants, which seems to have been successful.
Is going over revises of Earthworms.
Is investigating further his notion that leaves align themselves in the rain so as to shoot off drops of water.
Has been reading Julius von Wiesner’s book [Das Bewegungsvermögen der Pflanzen (1881)]. Comments that it is "an excellent book, but he vivisects me in the most grievous terms, but most effectively".
Has been experimenting on aggregation of chlorophyll but with little success.
Thinks FD should review Julius von Wiesner’s book [Das Bewegungsvermögen der Pflanzen (1881)]. CD comforted that Wiesner’s experiments support their findings but finds it laughable how differently he has interpreted them.
Earthworms is selling well.
Discussed how to repeat some of their plant experiments while in Cambridge.
Comments on Julius Wiesner’s views on plant movement.
S. H. Vines was very much surprised at the action of carbonate of ammonia on the roots of Euphorbia.
Comments on two letters received from W. F. P. Pfeffer [13425, 13464] who thinks Julius Wiesner’s view that light, etc. acts directly on plants is wrong.
Is frantic over the number of letters received about worms; feels the enthusiasm of the reception of Earthworms is laughable.
Is confounded by Euphorbia rootlets and has re-examined the effect of carbonate of ammonia.
Has thought of three good experiments to oppose Wiesner.
Forwards a letter from W. F. P. Pfeffer, who opposes some of Julius Wiesner’s notions on plant movements.
Andrew Clark finds that CD’s heart is perfectly right.
Returns certificate he has signed with pleasure.
Emma Darwin will be interested to hear that Charles Bradlaugh was expelled from Parliament.
Sends [for CD’s possible use] his observations on spines of fir used by worms to block burrows.
Circular letter regarding the distribution of CD’s excess income, with a note addressed to W. E. Darwin concerning his handling of Elizabeth Darwin’s share.
About the distribution of [surplus income] funds among the children.
A circular letter on the distribution of his money at death and the division ofErasmus’ estate.
Has promised to pay Hooker about £250 annually "for the formation of a perfect MS catalogue of all known plants [Index Kewensis]".
Advises his children as to how some money will be distributed among them.
Thanks his children for their present of a fur coat.