Ɛpsilon

To Henry Allen Wedgwood1   5 September [1855]2

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Sept 5

My dear Harry

I am very much obliged for the Columbine seed & for your note which made us laugh heartily.—

I had no idea what trouble the counting must have been, I had not the least conception that there would have been so many pods. I am very much interested on this point, & therefore to make assurance sure, I repeat your figures, viz 560 & 742 pods on two plants & 7200 on another. Does the latter number really mean pods & not seeds? Upon my life I am sorry to give so much trouble, but I shd be so much obliged for a few average size pods, put up separately that I may count the seeds in each pod; for though I counted the seeds in the pods sent before, I hardly dare trust them without counting more. Moreover I sadly want more seed itself for one of my experiments.—

The young cabbages are coming up already.

Thank you much about the asparagus seed; as it is so rare a plant, you are my only chance.—

We have been grieved to hear about poor Anne & Tom.3

Your affectte. screw | C. Darwin

Have you become acquainted with Mr Huxley; I think you would find him a pleasant acquaintance. He is a very clever man.

1
Henry Allen Wedgwood was CD’s cousin and brother-in-law.
2
Dated on the basis of the subject of the letter. CD was investigating the comparative fertility of wild and cultivated plants. See letter to J. S. Henslow, 23 [August or September 1855].
3
Thomas Josiah Wedgwood and his wife Anne Maria. Tom was a brother of Harry’s wife Jessie.

Manuscript Alterations and Comments

2.6 put up separately] interl
2.7 pod;] interl
2.8 itself] interl
5.1 grieved] ‘ri’ over illeg

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-1753,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-1753