Asks about FH’s research on maize. Suggests experiments.

No new experiments on mutually sterile maize varieties since his paper in Botanische Zeitung in 1868.

Apologises that he cannot supply any maize seed.

Repeated maize crosses without success: i.e., in most cases yellow and red varieties did not produce fertile offspring.

Praise for Cross and self-fertilisation: most important point proved is benefit of crossing between related individuals grown under different conditions. This explains adaptive value of dispersal mechanisms.

Regrets he cannot help on Oxalis question. He did not note the names of species with cleistogamic flowers as he thought they were sufficiently known.

Thanks for FHGH’s new book; also for the list of seeds, but he does not want any at present.

Preoccupied by reorganisation of Botanic Garden.

Regards to Francis Darwin.

Offers to translate Orchids, since H. G. Bronn has died.

Thanks for Hildebrand’s offer to translate Orchids into German, but H. G. Bronn had finished his translation before his death (Bronn trans. 1862). Has not yet received Hildebrand’s work on the distribution of coniferous trees (Hildebrand 1861). Asks that his compliments be presented to L. C. Treviranus.

He and L. C. Treviranus have repeated many of CD’s orchid observations with the same results. Sends his paper ["Fruchtbildung der Orchideen", Bot. Ztg. 21 (1863): 329–33, 337–45].

Comments on FH’s paper ["Fruchtbildung der Orchideen", Bot. Ztg. 21 (1863): 329–33, 337–45]. Annals and Magazine of Natural History will publish it in September [3d ser. 12 (1863): 169–74].

Pleased CD has had his [FH’s] orchid paper published [Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. 3d ser. 12 (1863): 169–74].

Extension of CD’s Primula heterostyly work.

Studying insect pollination in Salvia

and heterostyly in Pulmonaria officinalis which is similar to Linum case.

Thanks for orchids.

Recovering from nine months’ illness.

Discusses fertilisation of Pulmonaria.

Is obliged to receive FH’s papers. The cases of Lopezia and Schizanthus are new to him.

In 1860 CD watched Bombus lapidarius sucking the flowers of Pedicularis sylvatica and saw what FH has described.

Has not yet read the paper on Salvia.

Sending his paper on tristyly in Oxalis.

Cannot attend botanical congress, where CD will be vice-president.

Has forwarded FH’s paper on Fumariaceae to horticultural congress. Comments on its findings.

Discusses forms of Oxalis.

Points out an error in proof-sheets of Hildebrand’s paper on Corydalis cava (Hildebrand 1866d) and suggests some improvements to the English.

Assures CD of his belief in descent from his first reading of Origin.

Describes a case of dichogamy.