From John Syer Bristowe   17 September 1868

Dear Sir,

I dont know that the following case can be of any interest to you; but as you mention analogous peculiarities in regard to other vegetable productions,¹ & omit so far as I know to notice this particular case, I intend to send you a very brief account of it.

My brother, who has somewhat recently come to reside on Denmark Hill,² has there a vine growing in the open air. Last year it bore no fruit: this year it has a considerable number of large bunches of small grapes— The great majority of the grapes are purple; but every one (I think) of the bunches has from one to several & sometimes a cluster of green grapes, of the same size as the purple grapes, equally ripe with them, & resembling exactly what are called I believe the “sweet-water” grape. But besides these there are in probably every bunch, certain grapes of which a definite segment ($\frac{3}{4}$ $\frac{1}{2}$, $\frac{1}{4}$ or a smaller fractional part) is purple, the remainder being green, & the differently coloured portions being separated by a well defined limit.³

Of the vine itself I can give no history: it is I think a tolerably old vine—

If this case is, or can be made, of the slightest interest to you, I shall be happy to furnish you with further partiulars, and to send you several bunches of the grapes—

Yours very truly | J. S. Bristowe (M.D)

C. Darwin Esq F.R.S