From Henry Coe   4 November 1857

Sir,

In an article headed “Bees and Fertilisation of Kidney Beans” published in the Gardeners’ Chronicle of the 24^th. ult: I read “I am also astonished that the varieties of the Kidney Bean can be raised true when grown near each other. I should have expected that they would have been crossed by the bees bringing pollen from other varieties; and I should be infinitely obliged for any information on this head from any of your correspondents”.—²

I enclose a few beans they are from the “Black Negro”.— They were planted between the Dwarf Haricot, a “White” Bean, and a Dwarf entirely “Brown”, thus about 10 rows Haricot “White” -’- 4 -’- Negro “Black” then Dwarf. “Brown”.

Such a mixture, I never before met with, and the result was altogether unlooked for or expected— The Haricots (White) are very little touched with the exception of here and there one— The “Brown” not at all.—

I have the honor to be, | Sir, | Your obed^t. serv^t. | Henry Coe. | Gardener M^r. C. Darwin— | &c. &c.