From:
Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Miles Joseph Berkeley
Date:
?-?-1858?
Source of text:
JDH/2/3/2 f.219-221, The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Summary:
No summary available.
Contributor:
Hooker Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
Date:
12 Jan [1858]
Source of text:
DAR 114: 220
Summary:
On papilionaceous flowers and CD’s theory that there are no eternal hermaphrodites. Connects this theory to absence of small-flowered legumes in New Zealand and the absence of small bees as pollinators.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Asa Gray
Date:
12 January 1858
Source of text:
JDH/2/22/1/1 f.12-13, The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Summary:
JDH characterises himself to Asa Gray as a full throated critic. He often disagrees with his Father [William Jackson Hooker], who can be stuck in old ways of thinking, JDH stops him from publishing outdated views. They clashed over the JOURNAL [OF BOTANY] work, JDH is glad it is discontinued. JDH offers Gray species of Rubiaceae, he might bring them himself if he goes to the USA this year. Has consulted Huxley re. Gray's notes on vitality & offers his comments. Discusses his thoughts on dedoublement, at length, he has discussed the theory with [George] Bentham[GB] & does not consider it logical. Mentions Gray's work on Balanophoreae. Discusses in detail Dicotyledonous exogens & the hierarchy of flowering plants, enumerating the characteristics which should define the highest type. He thinks that the 'vegetable ladder' should be arranged by physiology of the reproductive organs with organic complexity secondary: this would elevate gymnosperms above Phaenogams. [Arthur] Henfrey has found the corpuscula[?] in Gnetum, he suspects the seeds take 7 years to ripen. JDH describes the development of Gnetum ovule during fertilisation. JDH is working on East India Company Assistant Surgeon competitive examination papers & Royal Society Report for [David] Livingstone's expedition. Comments that Gray has correctly described Sambucus fruit. Describes his observations on ovules in different plant genera & families: Viburnum, Caprifol[iaceae]. Conv[olvulaceae]. Aral[iaceae]. Umbelli[ferae]. Rubiaceae, with particular reference to raphe in Lonicerae. He suspects ovule structure will lead to affinities. He discusses his study of Chimonanthus, which he places nearer Monimiaceae & Annonads than Rosaceae, calycifloral characteristics being key. JDH thinks Cumming's Morinda is new. He is sending a fruit of Ceylon [Sri Lanka] Eupyrena. GB recommends his notes on Rubiaceae. Gray could send his notes on Timonius to the Linnean journal, JDH has not received the proof of Gray's Magnolia paper.
Contributor:
Hooker Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
Date:
15 Jan [1858]
Source of text:
DAR 114: 221
Summary:
CD has never doubted probability of Bering Strait land connection.
Family illness.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
15 Jan 1858
Source of text:
DAR 100: 120–1; L. Huxley ed. 1918, 1: 453
Summary:
Has gone over to CD’s side on the fertilisation of clover in New Zealand by bees.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
Date:
4 [Feb 1858]
Source of text:
DAR 114: 219
Summary:
Returns books by Candolle and Robert Brown.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
Date:
9 Feb [1858]
Source of text:
DAR 114: 223
Summary:
Six volumes of Candolle’s Prodromus confirm rule that small genera vary less than large. Labiatae an exception to rule.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
William Mitten
Date:
9?-2-1858
Source of text:
WILLIAM MITTEN LETTERS MIT f.144-144a, The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Summary:
No summary available.
Contributor:
Hooker Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
Date:
[17 Feb 1858]
Source of text:
DAR 114: 222
Summary:
General success of survey makes CD very concerned about sources of error. Wants to meet JDH for an important talk about big genera. Arranges meeting.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
Date:
23 Feb [1858]
Source of text:
DAR 114: 224
Summary:
Fertilisation of clover by bees in New Zealand.
Uneasy about biggest genera and their varieties.
H. T. Buckle’s sophistry [History of civilisation in England (1857)].
Working on bees’ cells.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
[25] Feb 1858
Source of text:
DAR 100: 115a–d
Summary:
Botanical practice can confuse CD’s compilations. Many small genera would have been species had the whole natural order [family] been known.
JDH’s low opinion of Buckle;
high opinion of Mrs Farrer.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
Date:
28 Feb [1858]
Source of text:
DAR 114: 225
Summary:
JDH has confirmed CD’s opinion on the affinities of species in great genera. Is looking at large genera in several local Floras to find the "range & commonness of varying species".
Has been "beyond measure interested" in the construction instincts of the hive-bee.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
Date:
5 [Mar 1858]
Source of text:
DAR 114: 226
Summary:
C. C. Babington agrees with JDH that botanists tend to note varieties more in large genera than in very small ones.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
Date:
10 [Mar 1858]
Source of text:
DAR 114: 227
Summary:
Heartened that tabulations of small and large genera done in different ways yield good results. JDH has done some tabulations but has not followed CD’s method of getting equal numbers of small and large genera.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
Date:
11 Mar [1858]
Source of text:
DAR 114: 228
Summary:
JDH’s "objection" that small local genera do not vary and mundane ones do, is exactly CD’s point. Local floras useful to test idea that varieties are incipient species. Same genus in different countries cannot be lumped.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
[14 Mar 1858]
Source of text:
DAR 104: 182–5
Summary:
Summary of JDH’s objections to CD’s survey of floras and conclusion that large genera vary more than small.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
Date:
16 [Mar 1858]
Source of text:
DAR 114: 229
Summary:
Thanks JDH for his objections; will respond by sending fair copy of MS when written.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Charles Robert Darwin
Date:
18 Mar 1858
Source of text:
DAR 100: 115e–f
Summary:
Continued objections to methods and conclusions of CD’s survey.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
Text Online
From:
J. D. Hooker
To:
J. S. Henslow
Date:
21 March 1858
Source of text:
American Philosophical Society Library The Scientists Collection I 509.L56
Summary:
No summary available.
Contributor:
Henslow Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Joseph Dalton Hooker
Date:
31 Mar [1858]
Source of text:
DAR 114: 230
Summary:
Writing section on large and small genera [for Natural selection, ch. 4].
Huxley supersedes Owen on parthenogenesis.
Buckle’s History of civilisation in England extremely interesting.
Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
