From:
John Murray
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
[1 July – 23 Aug 1862]
Source of text:
DAR 171: 525
Summary:
Account of Orchids.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Erasmus Alvey Darwin
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
1 July [1862]
Source of text:
DAR 105 (ser. 2): 6
Summary:
Asks for a note to the Geological Society, since the museum did not have the book Carlyle wanted.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Asa Gray
Date:
1 July [1862]
Source of text:
Gray Herbarium of Harvard University (69)
Summary:
Thanks for notes on Cypripedium and Platanthera hookeri, which is really beautiful and quite a new case.
His son, George, has been observing the insect fertilisation of orchids.
CD has been crossing peloric flowers of Pelargonium, but doubts he will get good results with respect to sterility of hybrids.
Rhexia glandulosa does not appear to be dimorphic. Lythrum is trimorphic.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Asa Gray
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
2–3 July 1862
Source of text:
DAR 165: 110a, 112–12a
Summary:
Discusses dimorphic plants and the occurrence of "precocious fertilisation" in the bud.
Gives some comments on design in nature in the light of the translator’s commentary in the French edition of the Origin.
Reports the recent events of the Civil War.
[Note on verso of envelope:] Utricularia vulgaris is "about as neatly contrived for cross-fertilisation by insects as almost any orchid".
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Erasmus Alvey Darwin
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
2 July [1862]
Source of text:
DAR 105 (ser. 2): 7–8
Summary:
Never mind the letter to the Geological Society; the museum got the book for Carlyle.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
2 July 1862
Source of text:
DAR 101: 44–5
Summary:
Will see to Masdevallia and Bonatea.
Domestic matters.
Lyell’s health.
CD’s eczema.
Hopes CD will solve the mystery of Melastoma.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Union Bank
Date:
[before 3 July 1862]
Source of text:
DAR 96: 5
Summary:
Wishes to invest some money in railway shares; asks for the advice of the bank’s brokers.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Frederick Currey
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
3 July 1862
Source of text:
DAR 161.2: 306
Summary:
G. B. Wollaston [in "British Orchideae", Phytologist n.s. 1 (1855–6): 225–7] says Ophrys arachnites is a hybrid, which contradicts CD, who says it is a new species.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
George Maw
Date:
3 July [1862]
Source of text:
Royal Horticultural Society, Lindley Library (MAW/1/8)
Summary:
Thinks GM’s Pelargonium is a case of true correlated characters. Feels secondary sexual characters are only accidental correlations; does not see the same necessity for close simultaneous development of certain characters as GM does.
Will forward a copy of his Orchids.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Jean Louis Armand (Armand de Quatrefages) Quatrefages de Bréau
Date:
3 July [1862]
Source of text:
Bibliothèque nationale de France, département des Manuscrits (Manuscripts NAF 11824 ff. 68–9)
Summary:
Can AdeQ verify the statement that the moths of the several races of the common silkworm are very similar?
When the female moth comes out of the cocoon, are her wings less developed than those of a male moth at the same stage?
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
William Erasmus Darwin
Date:
4 [July 1862]
Source of text:
DAR 210.6: 100
Summary:
Reports some observations on the fertilisation of wheat which WED might follow up.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
William Pamplin
Date:
4 [July 1862]
Source of text:
Bangor University Archives and Special Collections (Pamplin papers PAMP/40)
Summary:
Requests priced samples of paper for mounting dried plants.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Giles Bridle Daubeny
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
5 July 1862
Source of text:
DAR 162.1: 115
Summary:
Sends concluding part of his recent lecture on orchids so CD may see how his inquiries were represented in one of the great centres of clerical influence.
Asks whether insects are attracted to one species of orchids more than another.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
George Chichester Oxenden
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
5 July [1862]
Source of text:
DAR 173: 64
Summary:
His gardener kept an all-night watch on Epipactis palustris but saw no insects visit.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
William Alexander Wooler
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
5 July 1862
Source of text:
DAR 181: 157
Summary:
Believes, contrary to CD, that when anthers arise from petals the development of the pollen is affected by the amputation of the petal.
Believes interbreeding can be used to combine desirable characters, but that, carried beyond narrow limits, it leads to deterioration of the breed.
Has been experimenting on crossing polyanthus.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
George Maw
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
7 July 1862
Source of text:
DAR 171.1: 96
Summary:
Thanks CD for sending Orchids.
Reports observations by his uncle relating to the successful breeding of a male mule with a horse.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
William Erasmus Darwin
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
8 July [1862]
Source of text:
Cornford Family Papers (DAR 275: 3)
Summary:
WED reports on studying the pollen of grass and Valerian through his microscope.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Maxwell Tylden Masters
Date:
8 July [1862]
Source of text:
American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.)
Summary:
CD has been experimenting on the fertility of peloric flowers, with the forlorn hope of illustrating sterility of hybrids; seeks further plants or seeds.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
George Chichester Oxenden
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
8 July 1862
Source of text:
DAR 173: 56
Summary:
Has not found insects visiting Epipactis palustris either at night or in the day.
Reality of hybrid plants and birds in nature is controversial.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
George Chichester Oxenden
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
8 July [1862]
Source of text:
DAR 173: 55
Summary:
Has misplaced CD’s forwarding address.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
Correspondent
- Darwin, C. R.
- Gray, Asa8
- Darwin, W. E.6
- Hooker, J. D.4
- Oxenden, G. C.4
- Masters, M. T.3
- Oliver, Daniel3
- Quatrefages de Bréau, Armand de Quatrefages3
- Darwin, E. A.2
- Hildebrand, Friedrich2
- Journal of Horticulture2
- Maw, George2
- Brent, B. P.1
- Bronn, H. G.1
- Currey, Frederick1
- Daubeny, C. G. B.1
- E. Schweizerbart’sche Verlagsbuchhandlung1
- Murray, John (b)1
- Pamplin, William1
- St Barbe, John1
- Stanhope, P. H.1
- Union Bank1
- Westwood, J. O.1
- Wooler, W. A.1