Forwards newspaper reports by growers of Torbitt’s potatoes. Torbitt is in much distress and CD fears all his work will be thrown away unless he is aided.
Discusses financial and other arrangements for marriage of Horace Darwin and Ida Farrer. Mentions anticipated inheritance of children.
Has written to Torbitt.
Received enclosed report from Torbitt on potato experiments.
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".
Confesses to intense hatred of the bee [orchid] for its anomalous perpetual self-fertilisation.
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.
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.
Hooker is greatly overworked at Kew and is trying to get the Government to provide some help. CD hopes THF will take an interest in the matter and forwards a copy of JDH’s application for an assistant.
