CD and Frank working hard on cotyledonary movement.

CD suggests technique for growing Welwitschia.

Approves of J. D. Dana and of O. Heer.

Regarding CD’s inability to find a young botanist to investigate Russian wheat; comments on utter lack of organisation in scientific research in Britain as compared with Germany.

Gives arguments against CD’s suggestion that the saxonka seeds could have long dormancy period which would account for their gradual overtaking of kubanka.

Has studied the Comparettia falcata, not mentioned in Orchids, and found it is often self-fertilising.

Writes of his observations on the "valves of Houston" in the rectum, which he believes to be rudimentary organs.

Thanks his correspondent for his letter; hopes he will convey to the president how obliged he is for the invitation, which he cannot accept as it would tire him too much.

Asks for Cassia seed for experiments.

JDH cannot attend at the bestowal of CD’s honorary doctorate at Cambridge.

O. C. Marsh is rash to suggest all vertebrate types originated in America.

CD declines to write for RLT’s new journal. He is not fitted for the work and dislikes it particularly. It costs loss of time as he "cannot change with ease from one job to another".

Memorandum on Silchester. Report by IGJ of investigations carried out at Silchester with Frank and Horace [Darwin] on earthworm activity at the site of a Roman villa. Sections of vertical cuttings at Silchester, traced from the journal of the excavations of the Roman house, and notes on the same.

Having a splendid time at awarding of LL.D.

Thanks for bananas.

Nomenclature for kinds of heliotropism.

Deeply grateful for THH’s tribute to him at conferring of LL.D. at Cambridge.

Gives exceptions to maize being monoecious, as CD claims in Cross and self-fertilisation; reversion may be cause of hermaphrodite flowers observed.

Sends paper on potatoes and asks CD to republish.

Thinks EH’s translation of Cross and self-fertilisation [1877] is excellent.

Would like him to do Forms of flowers, but Reinwald is afraid to have it translated in the present political state of France.

A poem in tribute to CD following the award of his Cambridge LL.D.

He said nothing in his tribute to CD that was not strictly accurate. Has written out a version as well as he can recollect it and will send CD a copy.

Sends letter from Fritz Müller [11191] containing observations on plants and insects of South Brazil, with prefatory comments.

Asks GHD to determine whether there are worm-castings in cloisters of [Neville?] Court.

Enjoyed his visit to Cambridge. Asks for newspaper account of the LL.D.

Will look for worm-castings in the cloisters,

and will send CD items from the Cambridge papers on the honorary degree.

Has hit on a possible fallacy in W. Thomson’s theory of secular cooling of the earth.

Sends plant specimens of a hybrid he has raised by crossing two species of Rubus. Describes procedure by which he obtained them. Cites his paper on hybridisation.