Has accepted FD’s correction to chapter seven [of Earthworms].
Weather is bad; sky like lead and the lake as black as ink.
Describes seeds sent by George Payne [see 13205]. Is surprised that they bury themselves.
Ernst Haeckel wants to go to Ceylon to examine Medusae and Radiolariae, CD has offered him £100.
Is working on revises of Earthworms.
Has seen a pied flycatcher for the first time.
Comments on FD’s notions about movement of multicellular and unicellular organisms.
Comments on an interesting letter received from J. B. Hannay [see 13222] which leads CD to speculate on the possibility of organisms inhabiting a red hot earth under great pressure.
A stock certificate has arrived for FD.
Comments on the response to Movement in plants, which seems to have been successful.
Is going over revises of Earthworms.
Is investigating further his notion that leaves align themselves in the rain so as to shoot off drops of water.
Reports splendid cases of "paraheliotropism" which he now believes is one of the commonest movements of plants.
A circular letter on the distribution of his money at death and the division ofErasmus’ estate.
Has been reading Julius von Wiesner’s book [Das Bewegungsvermögen der Pflanzen (1881)]. Comments that it is "an excellent book, but he vivisects me in the most grievous terms, but most effectively".
Has been experimenting on aggregation of chlorophyll but with little success.
Thinks FD should review Julius von Wiesner’s book [Das Bewegungsvermögen der Pflanzen (1881)]. CD comforted that Wiesner’s experiments support their findings but finds it laughable how differently he has interpreted them.
Earthworms is selling well.
Discussed how to repeat some of their plant experiments while in Cambridge.
Comments on Julius Wiesner’s views on plant movement.
S. H. Vines was very much surprised at the action of carbonate of ammonia on the roots of Euphorbia.
Comments on two letters received from W. F. P. Pfeffer [13425, 13464] who thinks Julius Wiesner’s view that light, etc. acts directly on plants is wrong.
Is frantic over the number of letters received about worms; feels the enthusiasm of the reception of Earthworms is laughable.
Is confounded by Euphorbia rootlets and has re-examined the effect of carbonate of ammonia.
Has thought of three good experiments to oppose Wiesner.
Forwards a letter from W. F. P. Pfeffer, who opposes some of Julius Wiesner’s notions on plant movements.
Andrew Clark finds that CD’s heart is perfectly right.
Has promised to pay Hooker about £250 annually "for the formation of a perfect MS catalogue of all known plants [Index Kewensis]".
Advises his children as to how some money will be distributed among them.
Returns certificate he has signed with pleasure.
Emma Darwin will be interested to hear that Charles Bradlaugh was expelled from Parliament.
Sends [for CD’s possible use] his observations on spines of fir used by worms to block burrows.