From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Daniel Oliver
Date:
[10 Oct 1860]
Source of text:
DAR 261.10: 13 (EH 88205997)
Summary:
Delighted to try experiments on Drosera spathulata.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Edward Cresy, Jr
Date:
[19 Oct 1860]
Source of text:
DAR 143: 315
Summary:
Obliged for note of 16th.
Failed to enclose letter from Hofmann.
Will be glad to read A. S. Taylor’s work [On poisons in relation to medical jurisprudence and medicine, 2d ed. (1859)].
Daughter Henrietta still weak.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Daniel Oliver
Date:
5 Oct [1860]
Source of text:
DAR 261.10: 14 (EH 88205998)
Summary:
A poser: carbonate of soda produces inflection rather than contraction in Drosera. Possible solution: glands at end of hairs absorb as well as secrete. Fascinated by currents in cells after inflection.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
John Stevens Henslow
Date:
11 Oct [1860]
Source of text:
DAR 93: A79–80
Summary:
Sends further details on the movement of the red fluid substance in Drosera. Will write a paper on it.
"Dr [C. R.] Bree ""pitches"" into me handsomely."
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Daniel Oliver
Date:
12 [Oct 1860]
Source of text:
DAR 261.10: 16 (EH 88206000)
Summary:
Requests DO apply carbonate of ammonia to sensitive hair of Dionaea and measure reaction time. Wants to compare Drosera and Dionaea.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Daniel Oliver
Date:
14 Oct [1860]
Source of text:
DAR 261.10: 17 (EH 88206001)
Summary:
Has examined nearly all British orchids.
Hooker’s error on Listera.
Change in colour and consistency of Drosera hair glands after leaf inflection. Analogous structures in Dionaea. Requests Oliver confirm these observations on live plants, of which he has none.
In a muddle over the effects of salts on insectivorous plants.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Edward Cresy, Jr
Date:
14 Oct [1860]
Source of text:
DAR 143: 314
Summary:
Discusses letter from A. W. v. Hofmann concerning solution of iodine in water.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
John Medows Rodwell
Date:
15 Oct [1860]
Source of text:
DAR 185: 149
Summary:
Comments on Rodwell’s discussion of the “struggle for life” with reference to languages and G. H. Lewes’s article in the Cornhill Magazine (Lewes 1860, pp. 445–7). Comments on Rodwell’s account of horses affected by mildewed pasturage, and asks for more information about his white cat.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Daniel Oliver
Date:
17 Oct [1860]
Source of text:
DAR 261.10: 18 (EH 88206002)
Summary:
Thanks for information and extracts.
M. A. Curtis, quoted in ["Dionaea"] Penny encyclopedia [(1837) 8: 508], gives the only full account of Dionaea.
Concurs in DO’s explanation of Dionaea footstalk cells, which CD took for stomata.
Is using carbonate of ammonia as a substitute for flies and colour change in glands as index of action on Drosera. Suspects other nitrogenous compounds do not act till decomposed into carbonate of ammonia. Beginning to write Drosera paper. Action of nitrogenous compounds.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Daniel Oliver
Date:
[31? Oct 1860]
Source of text:
DAR 261.10: 19 (EH 88206003)
Summary:
The best way to see cell movement in Drosera hair, is to cut off those lately inflected over a fly, sketch shape of red matter under high power, and repeat after one or two minutes.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Daniel Oliver
Date:
20 Oct [1860]
Source of text:
DAR 261.10: 20 (EH 88206004)
Summary:
Will take Natural History Review, but cannot write for it.
Has mass of notes on irritability in orchids,
but he ought to work on Variation.
Drosera was an interlude while away from home. Expectations for effect of carbonate of ammonia on Dionaea. The important phenomenon in Drosera is the segregation of the red fluid within the leaf, not action of carbonate of ammonia on the red fluid.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Daniel Oliver
Date:
23 [Oct 1860]
Source of text:
DAR 261.10: 21 (EH 88206005)
Summary:
Compliments DO on his wealth of information.
Henrietta’s relapse.
Thanks for extract on Drosera.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
William Erasmus Darwin
Date:
26 [Oct 1860]
Source of text:
DAR 210.6: 58
Summary:
Concern over Henrietta’s illness.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
John Stevens Henslow
Date:
26 Oct [1860]
Source of text:
DAR 93: A81–2
Summary:
CD does not mind C. R. Bree’s dull, unvarying abuse and misrepresentation, but when he doubts CD’s deliberate word, "that is the act of a man who has not the soul of a gentleman in him".
JSH’s letter in Athenæum ["Flints in the drift", 20 Oct. 1860, p. 516] is interesting.
H. Freke’s paper [On the origin of species by means of organic affinity (1861)] is beyond CD’s scope.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
David Thomas Ansted
Date:
27 Oct [1860]
Source of text:
DAR 143: 19
Summary:
Comments on interpretation of natural selection in DTA’s Geological gossip [1860].
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
William Sharpey
Date:
28 Oct [1860]
Source of text:
DAR 261.10: 70 (EH)
Summary:
Testimonial for Daniel Oliver’s candidacy as Professor of Botany [DO was Professor of Botany, University College London, 1861–88].
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Heinrich Georg Bronn
Date:
5 Oct [1860]
Source of text:
Cleveland Health Sciences Library (Robert M. Stecher collection)
Summary:
Answers HGB’s criticism of Origin.
Explains HGB’s case of differences in rats by adaptation.
CD’s view explains homological and embryological resemblances of each type.
Does not believe all development is at same rate. Cites Australian forms.
Does not see force of objection that origin of life must be explained.
Asks if C. L. Brehm’s subspecies of birds are really characteristic of regions of Germany.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project