Enquiring about cleistogamic flowers of Oxalis.
Enquiring about cleistogamic flowers of Oxalis.
As editor of the new journal, Kosmos, thanks CD for the permission he has granted Ernst Haeckel to publish with CD’s approval.
Cites his long support for evolution as exemplified by his book [Die botanische Systematik in ihrem Verhältniss zur Morphologie (1866)].
CD has many German supporters.
Congratulates CD on testimonials from the savants of Germany and the Netherlands [Nature 15 (1877): 356, 410–12] and generally on his contributions to biology.
Asks if and when CD’s "Variability of organic beings in a state of nature", as projected in 1868 [see Variation 1: 4] is to appear.
Discusses the cleistogamous flowers of Oxalis. Thinks they may not be truly cleistogamous but merely arrested or imperfectly developed normal flowers.
Asks when his waggonette will be finished.
CD doubts that he will be able to do much more that is new, but cannot bear idleness. Has great amount of material on variation under nature, but so much has been published since the appearance of the Origin that he doubts he has the power of mind to render the mass into a digested whole.
Discusses possible cleistogamic flowers in Oxalis.
Sends belated birthday greetings
and an archaeological pamphlet.
Asks for CD’s autograph.
Fertilisation of orchids. Believes some plants so constituted as to dispense with cross-fertilisation.
Thinks flowers of Hottonia project from the stem nearly horizontally, perhaps slightly upwards.
Sorry that he cannot help with Pulmonaria angustifolia.
Thanks for Chauncey Wright’s work [Philosophical discussions (1877)].
Gladstone visited recently, and they discussed the future role of the United States as a world power.
Sends cheques in payment of CD’s share of profits on Cross and self-fertilisation, now nearly exhausted,
and the latest printing of Origin.
Oliver cannot, as CD has requested, hunt for trimorphic flowers in the Herbarium’s collection of Oxalis specimens. He would help Frank if he comes.
Thanks for account of his work. Cannot read Dutch, but son has translated it.
Thanks for album sent by PH’s countrymen.
Regrets he cannot help on Oxalis question. He did not note the names of species with cleistogamic flowers as he thought they were sufficiently known.
Sends an informal title-page [for Orchids, 2d ed.].
Appreciates the condolences for Frank [on death of his wife, Amy].
Wishes to reprint his four Linnean Society papers on di- and trimorphic plants [Forms of flowers]. Requests permission and woodblocks of figures.
Murray’s will not announce CD’s new work [Forms of flowers] until informed to do so.
Pangenesis supports the existence of gemmules; does not accept Galton’s experiments as disproving their existence or importance.
The editor of the Agricultural Gazette asks CD to settle a point being debated in his journal. Can a desirable breed of cattle, which is so inbred as to have scrofula, be maintained by crossing with a breed of healthy constitution?