Discusses recent trip to French gravel pits due to flint hatchets found there. Asks for high altitude samples for French friend’s acclimatisation study. Comments on Hooker’s trip to Middle East.

Asks whether one of Balfour’s students could obtain specimens of Corallorhiza from Ravelrig bog outside Edinburgh for CD.

Thanks for Primula paper [Collected papers 2: 45–63]; will examine some [Edinburgh] Botanic Garden samples in its light.

Huxley visiting Edinburgh and spoke on man’s zoological relations with monkeys [see Man’s place in nature (1863)]. JHB disagrees with his views.

Thanks JHB for specimen of Corallorrhiza;

would like some seeds of Corydalis claviculata.

Thanks for paper on Linum [Collected papers 2: 93–105].

One of his gardeners [John Scott] is also studying such fertilisation and appreciates CD’s encouragement; Scott has paper to read for Edinburgh Botanical Society.

Inquires which nurserymen near Edinburgh cultivate coloured primroses and cowslips. Wants to repeat John Scott’s remarkable experiments.

Does not know an Edinburgh nurseryman who can supply the cowslips and primroses CD wants; will try to get them from the Botanic Garden.

Hears from Hooker that CD is also examining Lythrum.

Thanks Balfour for Corydalis seed

and sends a photo of himself.