Comments on Hermann Müller’s article on the structure of Gunnera flowers.

Thanks CD for consenting to present his paper.

Asks whether he may send two or three other tubes [of boiled infusions] to be placed in the open and observed for him.

Is glad CD is working on cross- and self-fertilisation; reports recent works of botanists, notably Thomas Meehan’s ["Are insects any material aid to plants in fertilisation?", Philadelphia Press 13 Aug 1875], in which the importance of cross-fertilisation is denied.

Has heard that 2d ed. of Variation is out. If CD will send it to him, he will complete the Italian translation in a short time.

His translation of Expression is nearly finished [published in 1878],

and the 2d ed. of Origin is almost entirely published.

About a Polish edition of Variation.

Asks JT to send the tubes [of boiled infusions]. Frank Darwin will do his best. Asks for full instructions.

Asks that a copy of GHD’s paper on cousin marriage be sent to Hermann Müller. J. F. McLennan admires it "as a model".

Has found a spiral fibre in Drosera rotundifolia leaves which resembles animal muscle but is probably a modified ordinary plant fibre.

Has sent a copy [of his article on cousin marriage] to Hermann Müller.

Problem he is now working on is a tough nut: "It does not do what [James Clerk] Maxwell said it wd or ought to do".

On HM’s Befruchtung der Blumen [1873].

Report, from a reader of Expression, of a Negro boy’s monkey-like screams while having fractured femur adjusted without chloroform.

CD is asked to testify before a Royal Commission on experiments on living animals.

CD would feel bound to give evidence to the Royal Commission on vivisection should they ask him, but he has no personal experience of the matter. Expresses his opinions on the importance to physiology of experiments on live animals.

Encloses an invitation to give evidence to Vivisection Commission. Satisfied with way things were going, but E. E. Klein’s evidence that he is utterly indifferent to pain of animals has done great mischief.

Comments on Insectivorous plants, p. 353 mentioning J. J. T. Schloesing’s experiments with carbonate of ammonia [see J. J. T. Schloesing, "Sur l’absorption de l’ammoniaque de l’air par les végétaux", C. R. Hebd. Acad. Sci. 78 (1874): 1700–3].

Hopes printing of Variation [2d ed.] is going satisfactorily.

Climbing plants [2d ed.] is finished.

Canestrini still owes £10 from 1869 for electros of 1st edition [of Variation].

RC has urged Clowes on with printing of Variation [2d ed.],

but with Climbing plants [2d ed.] ready, it need not be done before the annual sale.

Charge for 500 sets of the heliotype illustrations of Expression is £37 10s 6d.

Sends a copy of Climbing plants [2d ed.]. Price cannot be higher than 6s.

Variation [2d ed.] price will be 18s, if CD approves. Future reprints will not be costly, since both have been stereotyped.