Thanks WED for his letter of 20 December 1875. Is surprised and delighted by the support from WED and CD for the Index.

Are plants that arise from vegetative propagation individuals or merely parts of the original parent plant?

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.]

Purchases cigarettes for CD.

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.]

Obliged for Belfast Journal.

Almost impossible to determine what constitutes an individual. Definition for sexually reproducing organisms does not apply to lower ones.

Agrees to aid HA in applying for membership in a society.

Asks CD to come up to vote for Lankester.

Severely critical of R. L. Tait’s paper on Nepenthes communicated to the Royal Society.

Promises to vote for Lankester.

Acknowledges faults of R. L. Tait’s paper.

Thanks CD for comments on Arabische Korallen [1876].

Comments on Monoenia darwinii [?] as a primitive sponge.

Discusses criticisms of CD’s theory by K. E. von Baer ["Über Darwin’s Lehre", in Reden 2 (1876): 235–480].

Tells CD of his engagement to Louisa, eldest daughter of Lord Claud Hamilton.

His investigations [into spontaneous generation] continue. He will deal with Bastian’s work [The modes of origin of lowest organisms (1871)].

The medical journals see that the end of the nonsense they have so long countenanced is nigh.

Sends congratulations and a teapot on the occasion of JT’s engagement.

Is pleased JT is not giving up on the spontaneous generation question. Feels strongly that subject will not be clear until it is understood how J. S. Burdon Sanderson and others succeeded in getting bacteria in infusions they had boiled for a long time.

Comments on her new book [A short history of natural science (1876)].

Thanks CD for letter complimenting her book. Responds to his comments on botany and geology in book.

Inquires whether insectivorous habit in plants supplements or replaces the normal method of plant nutrition.

Declines invitation to accompany JJW to Crystal Palace.

Responds to CD’s request for the names of species from which Cineraria varieties supplied to him have sprung. [Cross and self-fertilisation, p. 335 n.]

Sends packets of seeds of peas of different sizes [i.e., weights] for CD’s experiments; identifies size of the seeds that produced them. FG is experimenting "in the same direction" and is curious how his results will compare with CD’s.

Observations on hive- and humble-bees. Perforating habits differ in different individuals of the same species.

Sends set of illustrations for Expression marked to show those that could be improved for a future edition.