To J. D. Hooker   [1 March 1878]1

4 Bryanston Street, | Portman Square. W.

Friday

My dear Hooker

Should you think favourably of Mr Torbitt’s efforts after reading his printed letter, will you send me a short note which I may make use of, by shewing it to the D. of Richmond or any other person whom Farrer may advise.2

Please observe I shall not be the least surprized if you think the attempt hopeless. Farrer has shewn the printed letter to Caird who takes it up warmly & hopes to persuade the Agricult. Soc—to continue the trial.3 But I am convinced that paternal care is requisite for such experiments. Mr T— raises each seedling in a separate pot. I have ensured his continuing the experiment for this year by offering £100, which he says will be sufficient, that is unless he can get Govt aid—4

yours affectly | C. Darwin

LS

1
The date is established by the relationship between this letter and the letter from T. H. Farrer, 28 February 1878. In 1878, the Friday following 28 February was 1 March.
2
James Torbitt had written to Stafford Northcote, the chancellor of the Exchequer, requesting assistance for his experiments on the breeding of blight-resistant potatoes; he sent a copy of the letter to CD, who suggested that additional copies be sent to Hooker and Thomas Henry Farrer (see letter from James Torbitt, 24 February 1878 and enclosure, letter to James Torbitt, 26 February 1878, and letter to J. D. Hooker, 28 [February 1878]). Charles Henry Gordon-Lennox, the duke of Richmond, was president of the Royal Agricultural Society of England (ODNB).

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-11386,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-11386