Asks about FH’s research on maize. Suggests experiments.
Thanks for KLR’s latest work (Rütimeyer 1875).
Comments on GJR’s experiments.
Errata slip forInsectivorous plants
Sorry he was out when CD called.
Is obliged to be given a second and improved edition of GKMvS’s excellent lectures.
Sends a note on the ferment of the Nepenthes secretion, which he asks CD to forward to Nature if he thinks it worth while [see "Insectivorous plants", Nature 12 (1875): 251–2].
CD returns MS of a paper by RLT. "If you have succeeded in separating the ferment, the fact is manifestly important." Asks whether RLT tested the digestive ability of fluid from pitchers without animal matter. This would be necessary to prove that there was ferment in the fluid. CD is glad to hear about the [passage?] for guiding insects; he had guessed this to be the case.
Looks forward to reading CD’s statements about reflex action in Insectivorous plants.
Has prepared paper ["Physiology of the nervous system of Medusae", Rep. BAAS (1876): 158–63] in which he insists on occurrence of reflex action in absence of nerves. Would like to cite CD’s authority for occurrence of reflex action in plants.
CD has been elected an Honorary Member of the Akademie.
Acknowledges his election to the Akademie.
Would be obliged for correction of references in Variation [1st ed.].
Response to Insectivorous plants. Surprised that CD did not discuss origin of the contrivances. Critics will interpret them as inexplicable by theory of natural selection.
Insectivorous plants: observations on the digestive fluid of Nepenthes.
Reproduction of plant by "parthenogenesis".
Glad to hear that ARW is so busy.
CD believes that he has thrown some light on the acquirement of the power of digestion in Droseraceae [in Insectivorous plants].
Encloses corrections and notes on Variation [1st ed.].
Thiselton-Dyer has asked on CD’s behalf for results of experiments at Rothamsted on herbage of permanent meadow land. Sends report and tables of botanical analysis.
Solicits JDH and others at Kew for signatures to nomination of Francis Darwin for membership of Linnean Society.
No new experiments on mutually sterile maize varieties since his paper in Botanische Zeitung in 1868.
His appreciation of Insectivorous plants, especially Utricularia section.
