Forwards an unspecified work for FD to read.

Sends letter and seeds from [F. J. Cohn].

Is working too hard.

Julius von Sachs will "swear & curse" when he finds out he has missed sensitiveness of root apex. Has been putting his notes together and the case is conclusive. [Dated "Saturday 10th" by CD.]

A report has arrived for FD which CD will forward.

Has had conflicting information on the movement of radicles; wants FD to experiment with them.

Has been observing the movements of leaves and cotyledons; sleep movements are exaggerated circumnutation. Reports some odd observations on movement in Oxalis species.

Can send FD twisted branches of some climbing plants if he wishes.

Asks questions related to movement in plants. The cotyledons of Oxalis offer a promising field for study.

Wonders why Julius von Sachs thinks bloom is a protection against insects.

Encloses notes on the cotyledons of Oxalis species.

Will dispatch the best twisted stems he can find.

Considers the role of the pulvinus in leaf movement.

Suggests FD call on Carl Semper.

Inquires about Porlieria: Do the leaves shut to check evaporation? Does it appear silver under water?

Explains how he thinks the pulvinus acts; wishes FD would investigate the point.

Has a magnificent bush of Porlieria. There is no vestige of bloom; CD will test for sleep movements. Reports successful experiments on temperature-induced sensitivity of radicles.

Describes sleep movements in Porlieria and his experiments on movements of radicles.

Thalia flowers have interesting mechanism to ensure cross-fertilisation.

Asks for list of families of sleeping plants. Believes sleep is merely modified circumnutation at a particular time of day.

Porlieria has had no water for some time but shows no sign of flagging.

Describes the response of Thalia flowers to touch.

Discusses sleep movements of Porlieria.

Has read an abstract of Julius Wiesner on heliotropism and geotropism ["Die heliotropischen Erscheinungen im Pflanzenreiche", Anz. Kais. Akad. Wiss. Wien 15 (1878): 137–40] which seems important but is puzzling.

Gives details of his observations on climbing plants with reference to comments by Julius Sachs.

Has offered Carl Semper the writing machine.

Speculates on the mechanism of movement in plants and their reception of and response to stimuli.

Is forwarding the writing machine to Carl Semper.

Is glad FD has taken up his old friends, the twiners.

Hopes to get heliotropic aerial roots from J. D. Hooker. Asks FD to find out whether any moulds or roots are apheliotropic. Is puzzled by heliotropism in subterranean roots.

Comments on function of bloom.

Describes the effect of water shortage on sleep movements in Porlieria.

Is pleased FD’s climbing work goes well.

Thanks him for information on heliotropism.

Discusses sleep movements

and his observations on the sensitivity of radicle tips.

Instructs FD to plant some Oxalis seeds.

Wishes to trace the movement of an old cotyledon. Asks him to examine and compare the pulvinus of a species which moves its cotyledon greatly with one of a species that moves it only moderately.

Are the tendrils ready for heliotropic experiment yet?

Instructions to sow some seeds

and suggestions for experiment on effects of removal of bloom.

Likes Hugo de Vries very much; has hardly ever seen so modest a man.