CD at first thought GHD should not answer Haughton [see 10689], but Hooker thinks if no correction is made Haughton’s error will be quoted for 20 years. CD is now inclined to agree.

Thanks for letter. CD now has all the seeds and information he requires.

Value and origin of amphicarpic habit.

The Permian fossil sent by GdeS has stirred up the Kew botanists. Hooker suggests it was a Ceratopteris.

Thanks him for works by Lazarus Geiger [probably Zur Entwickelungsgeschichte der Menschheit (1871)

and Der Ursprung der Sprache, 2d ed. (1878)].

Thanks JP for congratulations on LL.D. [awarded by Cambridge University].

Comments on Rudolf Virchow’s book [Die Freiheit der Wissenschaft im modernen Staat (1877)].

Thanks for congratulations on his coming birthday. Has nothing special to say as a preface to S[erbian] edition [of Origin (1878)], except to hope it is in every way successful.

Thanks EH for birthday greetings.

Mentions his work on movement of plants.

Thanks RM for his interesting paper ["Entomological notes bearing on evolution", Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. 5th ser. 1 (1878): 155].

CD and Frank Darwin hard at work on physiology of plants.

Acknowledges safe return of Chauncey Wright’s letters. Has no objection to JBT’s publishing extracts from CD’s letters to Wright. [See 11338.]

Supports idea to translate C. K. Sprengel, but opposes publishing it together with H. Müller because this would raise price of Müller’s useful book.

Confirms JDH’s observation that only tip of cabbage radicle shows geotropism.

CD has been informed by G. M. [Asher] that G-W has undertaken the shipment of "Froment des Steppes" for examination. He is most grateful. [See 11361.]

Wants Trifolium resupinatum for "bloom" experiment.

Heterostyly in Linum perenne. Believes the American form may be a distinct species.

Will call on addressee when he is next in London.

Letter from Gaston de Saporta.

Germination of onion.

Doubtful that great heat would favour development of lower organisms.

Thinks WB’s proposal a very good one. CD could suggest two or three subjects for essays with respect to the vegetable kingdom, but they would require a long course of experiments "& unfortunately there is hardly any one in this country who seems inclined to devote himself to experiments".

Thanks for the specimens: the bulbs have been planted.

He has not attended to the colouring matter of plants, but he will ask H. C. Sorby if he would like the specimens.

Thanks for specimen of Aegilops flour.

Comments on ASW’s papers.

Cites paper by Wilhelm Rimpau on self- and cross-fertilisation in wheat ["Die Züchtung neuer Getreide-Varietäten", Landwirtsch. Jahrb. 6