Ɛpsilon

From James Caird   11 October 1880

Cassencary | Creetown | N.B.

Oct 11. 80

My dear Sir

I am much obliged for your letter & its enclosure.1 Mr. Torbitt seems to be getting into an extensive and robust family of Tubers, and his expenses must be considerable. If he could only make the grand discovery of a disease proof variety his fortune would be in his hands. I need not say that insofar as our small contribution goes it is left entirely to your discretion as to disposal.2

In this part of the country3 the potato has not been so prolific as this year since the first appearance of disease in 1845. Before that time 10 tons an acre was a common crop,— five to 6 or 7—was the best since. But there are this season 10 & even 11 & 12 ton crops—with but a small proportion diseased. And I expect that the Irish general crop will be in something like the same proportion good.

I expect to return to town about the 25th. inst.

Believe me My dear Sir | Yours very faithfully | James Caird

Charles Darwin Esq F.R.S.

1
CD had sent Caird a copy of an extract from the letter from James Torbitt, 26 September 1880 (see letter to T. H. Farrer, 1 October 1880). Neither CD’s letter nor the enclosure has been found.
2
Caird had helped raise funds for James Torbitt, who was carrying out large-scale experiments aimed at producing blight-resistant potatoes. For Caird’s contribution, see the enclosure in the second letter from T. H. Farrer, 8 March 1880. He had been an enthusiastic supporter of the scheme from 1878 (see Correspondence vol. 26, letter from T. H. Farrer, 28 February 1878).
3
Caird was writing from his home in Galloway in the south-west of Scotland.

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-12753,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-12753