His attempts to obtain a Government grant for Torbitt seem hopeless.

CD is suffering from constant swimming of the head.

Sends W. K. Clifford subscription.

Has been unwell and hardly able to do anything. Has seen Andrew Clark.

Agricultural Society will not do potato experiments. Torbitt telegraphs that seeds to be sown tomorrow. Memorial with a few signatures might get grant from Government. Hooker believes plan the right one.

No use in thinking about Royal Agricultural Society. William Carruthers, botanist of Society, thinks attempt hopeless. T. H. Farrer and James Caird are thinking of application to Government. Makes suggestions about experiments [on potatoes].

Thanks for essays by ASW ["Experiments with turnip seeds", Trans. Bot. Soc. Edinburgh 13 (1876–9): 25–39, and a short notice, "Experiments in singling turnips"] and Aegilops seed.

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

Has returned letter to Caird and dispatched corrected letter to Hooker [11406] [concerning potato experiments].

T. H. Farrer and James Caird think it would be less trouble to get subscription from rich agriculturists than from Government. CD thinks it utopian to hope to raise variety of potatoes from seed; must be propagated from tubers.

Hooker approves of Torbitt’s plan [concerning potato experiments]. Torbitt, wine and spirit merchant in Belfast, highly respectable.

CD gives his opinion on how the physiological laboratory at Kew should be equipped. It would be a pity if the laboratory were not supplied with as many good instruments as their funds could provide.

Thanks for second lot of Aegilops seed.

Discusses sterility of potato flowers.

Asks how much aid JT requires [for potato experiments].

Asks her to observe seedlings of Neottia breaking the surface to see whether the flower stems grow straight up or form arches, and whether they secrete water that softens the surrounding ground.

CD and Frank think they have proved that function of plant sleep is to protect leaves from injury by chilling radiation. Requests plants for experiment to determine whether underside of leaf is hardier than upper.

James Caird does not think Torbitt’s success justifies application to Government. Torbitt has four acres planted with seedlings. Has sent back CD’s £100. Shall CD insist that he keep it?

Studying geotropism.

Experiments using exposure to frost to study nyctitropism are difficult to perform because species vary in frost tolerance.

Wishes to contribute to the memorial for Claude Bernard, but first wants to be assured that, in his experiments, Bernard was not reckless with respect to the suffering of animals.

Thanks THF and James Caird for their assistance. Will send back the £100 to Torbitt.

Sends £100 to JT. T. H. Farrer and James Caird think they can get another £100 next year [for potato experiments].