Asks FD to forward some eczema mixture to Southampton for him
and to hunt out notes on earthworm activity at Beaulieu Abbey.
Offers to send MS of part of his new book [Life and habit] which gently pokes fun at CD. His book will offer an alternative to Pangenesis.
Nomenclature for kinds of heliotropism.
SB’s book [Life and habit (1878)] will be bound shortly. He will send two copies, one of which can be given to CD. To SB’s surprise it has turned out to be an attack on CD’s views and a defence of Lamarck; describes how he was brought to the opinions expressed in it.
Accepts CD’s offer of £50 for portrait of Erasmus Darwin.
Forwards an unspecified work for FD to read.
Will publish Origin first
and then Descent.
AS is looking for a job in a zoological museum or accompanying an expedition.
Suggests movements of sensitive plants may protect against insects.
JIR’s "theory" of sensitive plants published in an anonymous letter he sent to the Field 2½ years ago. Mechanisms for protection against insects in sensitive plants.
Julius von Sachs will "swear & curse" when he finds out he has missed sensitiveness of root apex. Has been putting his notes together and the case is conclusive. [Dated "Saturday 10th" by CD.]
Has had conflicting information on the movement of radicles; wants FD to experiment with them.
No summary available.
Sends letter and seeds from [F. J. Cohn].
Is working too hard.
Suggests sensitive plants that close at night would be protected from nocturnal-feeding snails. JIR’s brother in India says snails occur there in abundance.
Has been observing the movements of leaves and cotyledons; sleep movements are exaggerated circumnutation. Reports some odd observations on movement in Oxalis species.
Can send FD twisted branches of some climbing plants if he wishes.
Asks questions related to movement in plants. The cotyledons of Oxalis offer a promising field for study.
Wonders why Julius von Sachs thinks bloom is a protection against insects.
Encloses notes on the cotyledons of Oxalis species.
Will dispatch the best twisted stems he can find.
Considers the role of the pulvinus in leaf movement.
Suggests FD call on Carl Semper.
Inquires about Porlieria: Do the leaves shut to check evaporation? Does it appear silver under water?
Explains how he thinks the pulvinus acts; wishes FD would investigate the point.
JIR’s brother writes from India in support of the protective function of plant sensitivity.