Relates events at Down;

asks WED to make some observations on Lythrum.

His present hobby-horse is tendrils.

Describes experiments on rotation of tendrils and shoots.

Requests tendril-bearing plants.

Sends F. Hildebrand’s paper for publication by the Linnean Society or in Natural History Review.

Discusses geology of Brazil.

Asks for Brazilian stamps for his son.

Differences between tendrils derived from leaves and those derived from branches.

CD on Asa Gray’s attitude on the Civil War.

Encourages JS to continue work on coloured primrose. No one has noticed this since Gärtner. CD will send his own data for JS’s use and will read MS when ready. Advises JS to repeat experiments if evidence is weak – for his reputation’s sake and for satisfaction at fully establishing a fact.

Treviranus made a slip of pen in writing of Primula longiflora as short-styled.

Asa Gray writes as if Civil War were a holy war.

J. E. Renan on Jesus [Vie de Jésus (1863)].

Literature on tendrils of Cucurbita is contradictory.

CD’s great interest in JS’s work on fertility of Primula crosses.

Thanks for Passiflora trials.

"By no means modify even in slightest degree any result."

CD wishes he had counted rather than weighed Primula seeds.