CD again asks JDH to support Torbitt’s project to breed disease-resistant potatoes. He has also sought support of Farrer, Duke of Richmond, and James Caird.

His attempts to obtain a Government grant for Torbitt seem hopeless.

CD is suffering from constant swimming of the head.

Sends JDH a letter he has written supporting James Torbitt’s potato trials.

CD and Frank think they have proved that function of plant sleep is to protect leaves from injury by chilling radiation. Requests plants for experiment to determine whether underside of leaf is hardier than upper.

Studying geotropism.

Experiments using exposure to frost to study nyctitropism are difficult to perform because species vary in frost tolerance.

JDH may put CD’s name down for £200 for the proposed fund.

Does JDH have a plant of Porlieria hygrometrica he could lend to CD?

CD contributes £200 to JDH’s Royal Society fund.

Wants Oxalis specimen named; is fascinated by cotyledonary movements of the genus.

Before JDH discusses flora of Canary Islands CD suggests he read F. B. White’s paper [see 11707], which explains stocking of Atlantic island fauna as due to changed currents during [last, or Miocene] northern glacial period.

Thanks for JDH’s description of CD’s work in Nature.

Anthony Rich to bequeath his property (over £1100 a year) to CD.

Waiting for frost to go so experiments can start again.

Frank’s reasons for not accepting the Cambridge Examinership.

At work on Movement in plants.

Discusses John Ball’s, G. de Saporta’s, and his own theories of higher plant origin. Their rapid development remains an "abominable mystery".

Frank is working in Würzburg.

Searching for the right gardener.

Will get in touch with young gardener about terms of employment. It is good of Hooker to remember about heliotropism of insectivorous plants.

Wants some seeds to see how certain seedlings break through ground.

Wants seedling of Quercus rubra or Q. coccinea.

Movement of cotton plant cotyledons.

Thanks JDH for his praise of Erasmus Darwin.

Delighted that JDH is thinking about geographical distribution, wishes he would go over the New Zealand flora again.

Miss Arabella Buckley’s letter on Wallace’s poor health and finances leads CD to seek JDH’s aid in getting a Government pension.

JDH convinces CD not to press for pension for Wallace.