Comments on WB’s paper ["Über Variabilitäts-Erscheinungen an den Blüthen von Primula elatior und eine Anwendung des biogenetischen Grundgesetzes", Bot. Ztg. 38 (1880): 577–80].

Sends his paper ["Oceans and continents", Geol. Mag. 7 (1880): 385–91].

Thinks John Murray of Edinburgh goes out of his way to deny an elevation/subsidence view of coral reefs ["On the structure and origin of coral reefs and islands", Proc. R. Soc. Edinburgh 10 (1878–80): 505–18].

Obliged for paper ["Oceans and continents" (1880)].

Agrees that John Murray’s view [of coral reefs] is far-fetched.

Invitation to an address by T. H. Huxley at Josiah Mason's Science College in Birmingham.

Sends formal regrets that he cannot accept luncheon invitation or attend Huxley’s address [at opening of Mason College, Birmingham].

Supervising French translation of Movement in plants. Why does not CD consider spontaneous movements of flower parts, which EMH sees also as circumnutation?

Can Alphonse de Candolle see CD?

Asa Gray at Kew; will meet JDH in Italy in December.

Encloses statement of U. S. sales of CD’s works to 1 Aug 1880 and a cheque for the balance due to CD.

Asks whether CD would care to preface the letter of Burt G. Wilder which he forwarded for publication ["Two kinds of vivisection", Nature 22 (1880): 517–18].

Writes a sentence with which to preface B. G. Wilder’s letter [see 12726]. [Not used by and, perhaps, not sent to Nature.]

Has raised about 500 varieties out of the crop of the second generation comprising about 1500 varieties. Growers report immense yield and no disease. Doubts if variety free of disease will live for ever. New varieties must be continually coming into existence.

Sends two preserved pigs (showing some hereditary phenomenon) that the late John Scott intended for CD.

King has all of Scott’s papers.

Grieved to hear of John Scott’s death.

Could GK visit Down?

Rejoices at good news. Will let T. H. Farrer hear the result. Cannot see why some of new varieties should not endure fungus-proof for years.

Leaves Kew the next day for three or four months of travel.

No summary available.

No summary available.

No summary available.

JDH informs Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer [WTTD] that he is going to visit his children in Malvern before Asa & Jane Gray arrive for their visit. JDH updates WTTD on the current business of the gardens before he leaves. He reports that there have been a lot of Ward's cases to deal with, [John] Smith will reform the King of Hanover's grounds, Burt is improving, the Macrozamia is recovering, the Welwitschias are dying under [William] Watson's care, the Narras are also dead so the Doom palm [Hyphaene thebaica] & Balfour's things are to be cared for differently. Smith will leave soon, [George] Nicholson has returned. JDH has kept an eye on the museum & advised Jurd[?] about the pipes, they are now plastering. The fern house have been repaired. JDH has cleared a large paper cabinet some of which he will use for palms. [Charles] Flahault & Balfour are at RBG Kew, as is [Alfred] Coginaux studying Melastomads. JDH asks WTTD to start populating the palm house. He has cleared the tomato plants from the herbarium ground's walls where necessary. He askes WTTD to select some economic[?] plants for the walls of the new range house. Thanks WTTD for letter about his travels, wishes he has urged WTTD to cross the Monte Moro. The De Candolles will call later in the month to see the Grays. JDH thinks that Smith is right about the author of the RICHMOND TIMES articles being [James] Britten.