To W. E. Darwin   23 January [1872]¹

My dear W.

Many thanks.— I will wait till after Dividend & chance it.— It will put off bother & it is always pleasant to receive a good dividend.—²

Amy Ruck has sent me some good observations on the fine soil on old ploughed land, being everywhere 2$\frac{1}{2}$ thick on top of slope & 4$\frac{1}{2}$ at base of slope.³ And another case of ridges & furrows running down a slope, which were almost obliterated at the base.—

The late storms of wind & rain I see have had great power on the recent castings on our nearly flat field— I saw scores presenting a section, thus

Yours affect^y. | C. Darwin

Look, to old ridges on Southampton Common near you, on left going to Southampton $\frac{1}{4}$ or $\frac{1}{2}$ mile beyond the Turnpike.