From Charles Wentworth Dilke   12 October 1864

Dear Sir

I notice your question in last Gardeners Chronicle & send you such information as I can get.¹ It is perhaps hardly precise enough to print in the Chronicle   I therefore address it to you to deal with as you like.

In the notes to “Perkins A new Almanack” 1681 ² are “Excellent Notes of Husbandry & Gardening for each month in the year”

“February Observations sow all sorts of Pease & other Pulse, sow mustard seed” &c March x x “make an end of sowing all manner of Pulse” July x x “gather garden beans”

I have been through our Almanacs from 1682 to 1693 & find no other allusion to gardening. If you are content with later dates I shall have much pleasure in further examining.

Yours truly | C Wentworth Dilke

Charles Darwin Esq

I ought to mention that our Series only commences with 1681— we have but one before that—1678.