From:
James Buckman
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
[1 Dec 1857]
Source of text:
Gardeners’ Chronicle , 2 January 1858, p. 11
Summary:
Discusses the relative growth of native and foreign weeds.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
[2 Dec 1857]
Source of text:
DAR 104: 178–9
Summary:
News of Mrs Henslow’s death.
Studying Impatiens, which bears on CD’s problems. Though genus is endemic to India, with over 100 species, CD will be glad to know they do not run into one another.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
[6 Dec 1857]
Source of text:
DAR 104: 195–6, DAR 47: 192
Summary:
Finds CD’s results [of his survey of well-marked varieties from A. P. and Alphonse de Candolle’s Prodromus systematis naturalis regni vegetabilis (1824–73)] "very curious and suggestive". Thinks the Labiatae will present an obstacle to him as it is a very large and distinct order with well-defined species and genera. Would like to see him tackle more volumes of Candolle’s Prodromus, as his case can only be established by evidence from mundane plants. CD should beware of generalising from local species variability. A comparison of C. C. Babington’s and G. Bentham’s [British] Floras [Babington Manual of British botany (1843, 4th ed., 1856); Bentham Handbook of British flora (1858)] would be invaluable. Suggests CD write to Ferdinand Müller and Charles Moore in Australia. Moisture favouring extension of species is important for CD’s view.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Hewett Cottrell Watson
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
14 Dec [1857]
Source of text:
DAR 98: A11–12
Summary:
Will shortly return CD’s list of varieties of British plants. Discusses the situations in which different varieties of species are often found and the ranges of varieties relative to those of the species.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
George Bentham
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
[16 or 17 Dec 1857]
Source of text:
DAR 160: 151
Summary:
Returns CD’s lists [sent with 2184]. Confusion in genera of Silene is great in continental botanic gardens. One would have to know whether C. F. v. Gärtner had the right names for species in his experiments.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
[17–23 Dec 1857]
Source of text:
DAR 104: 194
Summary:
Sending more Candolle volumes for survey of species with well-marked varieties.
Has begun his introduction [to Flora Tasmaniae]; will not make generalisations.
J. D. Dana’s pamphlet too metaphysical for JDH.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Edward Hewitt
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
18 Dec 1857
Source of text:
DAR 166: 196
Summary:
Hybrid varieties of pheasant and common fowl. Reply to CD queries.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Hewett Cottrell Watson
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
20 Dec [1857]
Source of text:
DAR 98: A13–14
Summary:
Finds he cannot annotate CD’s list of subspecies and varieties as wanted. Mentions again his difficulties with "species"; he "cannot find the proof of species being definite and immutable whatever they may seem to be at any one time and spot".
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Edward Hewitt
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
22 Dec 1857
Source of text:
DAR 166: 197
Summary:
Replies to more queries about fowl hybrids.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
James Hunt
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
[before 29 Dec 1857]
Source of text:
DAR 166: 281
Summary:
Birds that have been hybridised.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project