WCP1971

Letter (WCP1971.4106)

[1]1

Rosehill, Dorking.

Dec[embe]r.. 13th. 1876

My dear Darwin

Many thanks for your new book on Crossing plants, which I have read with much interest. I hardly expected however that there would have been so many doubtful and exceptional cases. I fancy that the results would have come out better had you always taken weights instead of heights; & that would have obviated the objection that will I dare say be made, that height proves nothing, because a tall plant may be weaker, less bulky and less vigorous than a [2] shorter one. Of course no one who knows you or who takes a general view of your results will say this, but I dare say it will be said.

I am afraid this book will not do much or anything to get rid of the one great objection, that the physiological characteristic of species, the infertility of hybrids, has not yet been produced.

Have you ever tried experiments with plants (if any can be found) which for several centuries have been grown under very different conditions, — as for instance potatoes on the high Andes, & in Ireland? [3] If any approach to sterility occurred between in mongrels between these it would be a grand step. The most curious point you have brought out seems to me the slight superiority of self fertilisation over fertilisation with another flower of the same plant, — & the most important result, that difference of constitution is the essence of the benefit of cross fertilisation. All you now want is to find the neutral point, where the benefit is at its maximum, any greater difference being predjudicial[sic].

Hoping you may yet [4] demonstrate this

Believe me | Yours very faithfully | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]

Charles Darwin Esq

‘Wallace’ is written below the date in a different hand.

Transcription (WCP1971.1861)

[1]1

To C.Darwin.) Rose Hill, Dorking. Dec'r 13th.1876

My dear Darwin Many thanks for your new book2 on Crossing plants, which I have read with much interest. I hardly expected however that there would have been so many doubtful and exceptional cases. I fancy that the results would have come out better had you always taken weights instead of heights; & that would have obviated the objection that will I dare say be made, that height proves nothing, because a tall plant may be weaker, less bulky and less vigorous than a shorter one. Of course no one who knows you or who takes a general view of your results will say this, but I dare say it will be said. I am afraid this book will not do much or anything to g get rid of the one great objection, that the physiological characteristic of species, the infertility of hybrids, has not yet been produced. Have you ever tried experiments with plants (if any can be found) which for several centuries have been grown under very different conditions, — as for instance potatoes in the high Andes, & in Ireland? If any approach to sterility occurred in mongrels between these it would be a grand step. The most curious point you have brought out seems to me the slight superiority of self fertilization over fertilization with another flower of the same plant, — & the most important result, that difference of constitution is the essence of the benefit of cross fertilization. All you now want is to find the neutral point, where the benefit is at its maximum, any greater difference being predjudicial.(sic)

Hoping you may yet demonstrate this Believe me

Yours very faithfully Alfred R. Wallace.

Page is numbered (1) top centre, and subsequently struck out in pencil.
Darwin, C.R. (1876) 'The effects of cross and self-fertilisation in the vegetable kingdom' London, UK; John Murray

Transcription (WCP1971.4478)

[1]

To C[harles].Darwin. Rose Hill, Dorking. Dec’[embe]r 13th.1876

My dear Darwin

Many thanks for your new book on Crossing plants, which I have read with much interest. I hardly expected however that there would have been so many doubtful and exceptional cases.

I fancy that the results would have come out better had you always taken weights instead of heights, and that would have obviated the objection that will I dare say be made, that height proves nothing, because a tall plant may be weaker, less vigorous and less bulky than a shorter one. Of course no one who knows you or who takes a general view of your results will say this, but I dare say it will be said.

I am afraid this book will not do much or anything to g get rid of the one great objection, that the physiological characteristic of species, the infertility of hybrids, has not yet been produced. Have you ever tried experiments with plants (if any can be found) which for several centuries have been grown under very different conditions, — as for instance potatoes on the high Andes, & in Ireland? If any approach to sterility occurred in mongrels between these it would be a grand step. The most curious point you have brought out seems to me the slight superiority of self fertilization over fertilization with another flower of the same plant, — & the most important result, that difference of constitution is the essence of the benefit of cross fertilization. All you now want is to find the neutral point, where the benefit is at its maximum, any greater difference being prejudicial.(sic)

Hoping you may yet demonstrate this | Believe me | Yours very faithfully | Alfred R.Wallace. [signature]

Published letter (WCP1971.6069)

[1] [p. 296]

Rose Hill, Dorking. December 13, 1876.

My dear Darwin, — Many thanks for your new book on "Crossing Plants," which I have read with much interest. I hardly expected, however, that there would have been so many doubtful and exceptional cases. I fancy that the [2] results would have come out better had you always taken weights instead of heights; and that would have obviated the objection that will, I daresay, be made, that height proves nothing, because a tall plant may be weaker, less bulky and less vigorous than a shorter one. Of course no one who knows you or who takes a general view of your results will say this, but I daresay it will be said. I am afraid this book will not do much or anything to get rid of the one great objection, that the physiological characteristic of species, the infertility of hybrids, has not yet been produced. Have you ever tried experiments with plants (if any can be found) which for several centuries have been grown under very different conditions, as for instance potatoes on the high Andes and in Ireland? If any approach to sterility occurred in mongrels between these it would be a grand step. The most curious point you have brought out seems to me the slight superiority of self-fertilisation over fertilisation with another flower of the same plant, and the most important result, that difference of constitution is the essence of the benefit of cross fertilisation. All you now want is to find the neutral point where the benefit is at its maximum, any greater difference being prejudicial.

Hoping you may yet demonstrate this, believe me yours very faithfully, | Alfred R. Wallace.

Please cite as “WCP1971,” in Beccaloni, G. W. (ed.), Ɛpsilon: The Alfred Russel Wallace Collection accessed on 28 March 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/wallace/letters/WCP1971