JDH discusses his and others’ experiments on survival of seeds. Impressed with resistance of some seeds and rapid decomposition of others. He wonders about "vitality" in the abstract.
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The Charles Darwin Collection
The Darwin Correspondence Project is publishing letters written by and to the naturalist Charles Darwin (1809–1882). Complete transcripts of letters are being made available through the Project’s website (www.darwinproject.ac.uk) after publication in the ongoing print edition of The Correspondence of Charles Darwin (Cambridge University Press 1985–). Metadata and summaries of all known letters (c. 15,000) appear in Ɛpsilon, and the full texts of available letters can also be searched, with links to the full texts.
JDH discusses his and others’ experiments on survival of seeds. Impressed with resistance of some seeds and rapid decomposition of others. He wonders about "vitality" in the abstract.
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.
Thinks it would be a serious mistake for TB to give up his profession. How the Royal Society will distribute funds is as yet very uncertain, and CD feels that TB may well receive no support as his proposal is too theoretical.
Has observed the scarcity of humble-bees and subsequently of holly berries this year. But does not think humble-bees ever visit holly flowers, however plentiful they may be.
Thanks for CD’s frank criticism of his views.
Hooker advises him to apply for aid to work out glaciation between Pyrenees and Alps.
Lists misprints in Cross and self-fertilisation.
Sends observations and references relevant to a new edition of Expression.
Comments on WHL’s paper ["Pontederia cordata", Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 6 (1875–9): 62–3]. Cites Fritz Müller’s conclusion that plant is trimorphic. Has WHL made further observations?
Thanks JVC for errata [in Cross and self-fertilisation]
and especially for interesting and amusing notes on expression. Will use them if a new edition [of Expression] is needed, but Murray has printed too many copies of first edition.
Suggests CD write to Mr Fisher, a nurseryman, on his experiments with crossing varieties of holly.
Thanks AG for card about Pontederia.
Asks for specimens of Phlox subulata and Gilia aggregata to check for dimorphism.
Requests permission to use illustrations from F. Müller’s Facts and arguments for Darwin in the new edition [of his Habit and intelligence, 2d ed. (1879)].
CD notes growth of Royal Society may force it to hire officers.
Speculates on cold resistance of bacterial germs.
Will communicate to Royal Society Frank’s paper on the ingestion of solid particles by the protoplasmic protrusions of Dipsacus glands.
CD working on plant dimorphism.
Thanks CD for calling attention to a "considerable error" in his observations on Hottonia fertility [in Die Befruchtung der Blumen (1873)]. [See Forms of flowers, p. 52.]
Sends his papers [unspecified].
Linnaeus was a "Darwinist" because he placed the simians in the genus Homo.
JDH recounts discussion at Royal Society over Günther’s paper on distribution and affinities of gigantic tortoises ["Description of the living and extinct races of gigantic land-tortoises, Parts III and IV", Proc. R. Soc. Lond. 25 (1876–7): 506–7]. Huxley suggests they are Miocene relics.
Royal Society will publish Frank’s Dipsacus paper [but see 10971 and 11073].
Thiselton-Dyer will review Cross and self-fertilisation.
On Royal Society Council’s deliberations on awards. GJA argues that older men should be given first claim lest they die neglected; CD had stressed importance of encouraging younger men.
CD thinks A. Günther’s tortoises are relics of closely allied forms, once widely distributed. Expressed this view to AG a few months ago. Cannot explain their restriction to volcanic islands.
Thanks for a copy of PS’s Critica nella filosofia zoologica del XIX secolo: dialoghi di Pietro Siciliani … (Naples: Cav. Antonio Morano Editore, 1876).
Sends CD parts of the Annales [Soc. Bot. Lyon] in response to his request for a particular article.
States that, despite CD’s work, he does not believe that any plants, including insectivorous ones, can utilise organic material, and that they live solely on mineral elements in the soil and air.
He has defended Tyndall, CD, and others against attacks of a clergyman.