Encloses part of letter from Fritz Müller on Passiflora, with seeds.

Is endeavouring to have included in next census a question as to whether the parents in each household are cousins.

Fertilisation of barberries.

Passiflora.

Is continuing his experiments on the comparative growth of crossed and self-fertilised plants.

Encloses seeds from Fritz Müller, of a species of Passiflora, fertilised by a humble-bee.

Was aware of Maine’s view but never thought of its extension to morals. Cannot avoid thinking that personal property like flint tools must have "strictly belonged to individuals as much as a bone to a dog".

THF’s article in Nature ["The fertilisation of a few papilionaceous flowers", 6 (1872): 478–80, 498–501] is extremely good.

Suspects he now has answer to why common peas and sweetpeas hardly ever intercross, a point which half drove CD mad for years.

Recommends Hermann Müller’s Die Befruchtung der Blumen [1873].

Asks THF to examine old flowers of Coronilla for holes bored by bees.

Is investigating whether drops of water injure leaves.

Thinks THF has solved the mystery of Coronilla.

Suggests a reference to Annals and Magazine of Natural History, 1 Dec 1873, p. 497, when THF takes up Coronilla.

Thanks THF for information from Colonial Office on population statistics showing the inhabitants of some areas are far from becoming sterile.

Delighted to hear about Coronilla. Urges publication ["Fertilisation of papilionaceous flowers– Coronilla", Nature 10 (1874): 169–70].

Has read THF’s article on Coronilla [see 9400] – "a very curious case"; is troubled by C. emerus.

Describes difficulty of conditions for the experiment with Drosera suggested by THF.

CD is delighted with report from THF about activity of worms in Roman-British ruins at Abinger.

Thanks THF for the diary of worm activity at Abinger site.

CD desires her to say that the cream of THF’s letter of congratulations about William [Darwin]’s marriage [to Sara Sedgwick] lay in the P.S. about "the beloved worms, and not in any such trifles as marrying, &c".

If THF and James Caird [Enclosure Commissioner] approve of enclosed letter, CD will send it to Hooker.

Has received Ledum with its captured flies.

"At present I care for nothing in this wide world except the biology of seedling plants."

Doubts Ledum warrants investigation. Glands probably serve only to protect the flowers against crawling insects, which would not cross-fertilise them.