Regrets he cannot help on Oxalis question. He did not note the names of species with cleistogamic flowers as he thought they were sufficiently known.
Regrets he cannot help on Oxalis question. He did not note the names of species with cleistogamic flowers as he thought they were sufficiently known.
Oliver cannot, as CD has requested, hunt for trimorphic flowers in the Herbarium’s collection of Oxalis specimens. He would help Frank if he comes.
Wishes to reprint his four Linnean Society papers on di- and trimorphic plants [Forms of flowers]. Requests permission and woodblocks of figures.
The editor of the Agricultural Gazette asks CD to settle a point being debated in his journal. Can a desirable breed of cattle, which is so inbred as to have scrofula, be maintained by crossing with a breed of healthy constitution?
Pangenesis supports the existence of gemmules; does not accept Galton’s experiments as disproving their existence or importance.
Asks FD to mollify Daniel Oliver and assure him that CD asks "only for what I wd. give my life’s blood for".
CD apologises for his burdensome request of Oliver.
Criticises JDH’s notice on Forsythia, which JDH said was dioecious. Forsythia sent to CD from Kew was heterostylous.
Encloses statement of sales for Origin, Expression, Descent and Insectivorous plants and sends a cheque for the balance due to CD.
No summary available.
Has received the sheets of EG’s Spanish translation of Origin. Regrets that he cannot undertake to read them because of his health, over-work, and having forgotten much of the language. What he has read seems clearly expressed.
Evidence for inheritance of constitutional diseases like scrofula so good that it seems rash to breed tainted animal.
Experiments given in Cross and self-fertilisation show that evil of inbreeding follows from near relations possessing closely similar constitution.
Size and vigour increased by breeding plants and animals from ancestors that lived some generations under different conditions of life.
A curious error – too late to change: in Cross and self-fertilisation CD has "cleistogenous" for "cleistogamous" flowers throughout.
Staying with W. D. Fox on the Isle of Wight. Offers to find Pulmonaria plants.
Thanks for EK’s book [Werden und Vergehen (1876)].
Regrets he cannot write for EK’s journal, but his son, Francis, may do so.
Suggests EK as editor urge on readers [of Kosmos] the investigation of the causes of variability; why, for instance, do wild Pampas cattle change colour when domesticated? Thinks experiments and observations on recently domesticated animals and cultivated plants would throw light on the subject.
Thanks CD for new [2d] edition of Orchids.
Mentions some observations on dimorphic plants.
Reports on a third species of Pontederia [see Forms of flowers, p. 185].
Describes some unusual grasses.
Reports rumours from southern Brazil concerning the existence of a gigantic subterranean animal.
Had found out his error [use of "cleistogenous" for "cleistogamous" in Cross and self-fertilisation] some timeago.
Is now writing on cleistogamic flowers [for Forms of flowers (1877)], and, with it, will have worked up all his old materials on plants. JVC will then have a rest from his labours of translation.
No summary available.
Proposes to construct an aquarium on Jersey and wants to use CD’s name in support of the project.
Thanks for specimens [of insects].
Wonders whether difference between male and female plays part in fertilisation of fig.
Flowers of Oxalis sensitiva, sent long ago, are trimorphic and cleistogamic.
Thanks for the reviews, particularly the one in the Times.
CD will be pleased to receive Mr Wallace.