Ɛpsilon

To T. M. Reade   8 November 1881

Down, | Beckenham, Kent. | (Railway Station | Orpington. S.E.R.)

November 8th 1881

My dear Sir

I noticed your account of the pipes in the under-clay, but feel quite unable to express any opinion on the subject.1 It is certain that roots often run down worm-burrow, but I believe that roots can penetrate the ground to a great depth without such aid. I am much pleased that my book has at all interested you;2 it has been a complete surprise to me how many persons have cared for the subject.—

I remain, my dear Sir | Yours faithfully | Ch. Darwin

1
See letter from T. M. Reade, 6 November 1881. Reade had found deep roots in clay, some of which were lined with mould, and wondered whether the roots had followed the path of worm burrows.
2
Earthworms.

Manuscript Alterations and Comments

0.1 (Railway … S.E.R.)] parentheses added
1.3 roots] above del ‘they’

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-13472,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-13472