Ɛpsilon

From Richard Trevor Clarke   [April? 1863]1

Dear Mr Darwin

Enclosed are blossoms of the individual hautbois which I have used as female parent in my experiments.2 The anthers are certainly only rudimentary. I may mention it is very possible that the microscope may shew some grains ⁠⟨⁠of⁠⟩⁠ pollen, other blossoms on the same spike and perhaps th⁠⟨⁠ese⁠⟩⁠ having been fertilized by myself.—

I am glad you received the plants safe.3 I propose in future when any little curious fact turns up to send you a short memorandum, knowing that working men dont like too much correspondence

Very truly yours | R Trevor Clarke ⁠⟨⁠⁠⟨⁠6⁠⟩⁠3 Eaton Square | for 10 days4

1
The conjectured date is the earliest possible for the flowering of strawberries subsequent to the letters from R. T. Clarke, [after 25 November 1862] and [after 27 November 1862] (Correspondence vol. 10). See n. 2, below.
2
Clarke described his experiments with strawberry crosses in his letter to CD of [after 25 November 1862] (Correspondence vol. 10). See also Variation 1: 352.
3
Clarke had sent strawberry plants to CD in November 1862 (see Correspondence vol. 10, letter from R. T. Clarke, [after 27 November 1862]). CD’s reply has not been found.
4
A fellow army officer of Clarke’s, Major-general Alexander Murray Tulloch, lived at 63 Eaton Square, London (Post Office London directory 1863).

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-4070,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-4070