From Charles Hardy¹   23 July 1860

Sir,

I venture to mention to you in connexion with a remark made by you at p. 73 of your “Origin of Species” that “humble bees alone visit the red clover (Trifolium pratense) as other bees cannot reach the nectar”—that I was at Bury near Arundel last year in the months of July August & September. There was a field of red clover at the back of the house which was always frequented by myriads of bees.² Speaking moderately I think a single dash of the net in any part of the field would have taken fifty of them. I called the attention of my children to the fact as contradicting what I told them was a popular error—which circumstance they perfectly recollect. I have repeatedly observed the same thing at other times & in other places.

I ought to say that the clover in question was a second growth (& I believe that it is from the second growth exclusively that the seed is saved) & that the flowers are somewhat smaller than those produced by a first growth. I have never particularly observed whether the latter are equally frequented by bees. If my life is spared for another year I will endeavour to ascertain that point.

I remain Sir | faithfully yours | Charles Hardy.

C. Darwin Esq^re.