To J. D. Hooker   14 May [1860]

My dear Hooker

I daresay you will be too busy to give instructions about the fertilisation of Leschenaultia;¹ but in case you do, I write to say that I find the way to do it, is to move a camel-pencil, holding handle nearly parallel to the pistil & axis of flower, just in same direction & manner as the belly of a Bee would brush over the indusium, whilst crawling in to suck the copious nectar; & then the points of the brush hit against the rough protuberant lip, open the indusium, & some of the hairs enter & stir up the pollen splendidly & generally bring out some grains. So that the operation is done in a second, & I feel nearly sure that every bee which sucks this flower will open the indusium, stir up the pollen, remove some, & often leave pollen from other flowers within the indusium.

In fact I am at ease about Leschenaultia; but sh^d like excessively to prove that stirring up the pollen within the indusium is necessary or favourable to fertilisation. For then I sh^d look at this curious contrivance, as specially related to visits of insects; as I begin to think is almost universally the case. The evidence about dioicous condition of Cowslips & Auriculas seems to me to get clearer & clearer.—

And now I will (honour bright) not bother you with another note for a long time—that is if I can possibly resist

Yours affect^y | C. Darwin

Poor dear Etty is a little better; not seriously ill, but our Doctor, who comes daily, says the Fever may run on for a considerable time. She eats hardly anything, but does not weaken so rapidly as I sh^d. have feared.²

P.S. | Very hearty thanks for your pleasant note (& M^rs. Hooker’s) just received. I daresay after all my vows I shall not resist answering it.—

I find before flowers are utterly withered of Cowslips the seeds of “females” are twice as big as seeds or ovules in the “Male” flowers—   Hence I expect the latter will abort entirely. Out of 522 flower stalks gathered by the children I find 281 males & 241 Females.—³