To G. H. Darwin   [before 9 October 1880]¹

My dear George.

There was heavy rain last night & this morning here, & the walk under the Limes was flooded & water flowed down it. The fruit of Lime-trees formed 12 transverse rows, like a ripple.— You will see by enclosed that each has a little stalk. Would such objects arrange themselves transversely to stream. At the end of each ripple, I think, but dare not say so positively, that the majority of the stalks projected transversely to the line of walk.²

Yours affectionately | C. Darwin

I was dismayed when I first saw them on the walk, for I did not see that each had a stalk.