WCP822

[1]^{1 2}

22, Hyde Park Gate,

S.W.

Dear Sir,

I am writing to you as an old admirer of your works more especially of the conclusions you have come to in your last work "The World of Life,"³ I was known to the late Charles Darwin⁴ and stayed on several occasions at his house at Downe [sic] with a Cambridge friend of mine who was intimate with Sir George⁵, Sir F⁶ and Leonard Darwin⁷. As an amateur I am interested in plant life and [2] organic chemistry and after reading your list on pages 358, 359 The World of Life, I was set thinking over the 4 elements which are essential for protoplasm, but not essential for the work structure of the earth. Phosphorus, No. 7 interests me most. In 1895 I began searching for a vegetable assimilable phosphorus for a medicine and in 1900 I actually took out a Trade Mark "Phosuis" for such a commodity in advance, but was unable to obtain commercial qualities to let the matter rest. Since then Dr S. Posternak of Paris discovered the double salt of Calcium & [3] principle of green plants and contains as much as 26.08 per cent. of the element in organic combination; its molecule is represented by the formula C₂H₈P₂O₉ and is now obtained in commercial quantities from Hemp seed. Nature seems to throw its phosphorus reserve in plants into the new germ or seed or in the case of mammals into the foetus and mothers milk. Certainly there cannot be life without phosphorus. Nor can the species continue its life without a store reserve of phosphorus. for the embryo to draw on the start.

[4] It is not possible that the Chlorophyll in the green plants is able with the suns rays to absorb phosphorus from the atmosphere in the same way as it does Carbon? It seems to me that this is the case and as the leaves fade the phosphorus appears to rush to the seeds to supply the new germs with nourishment.

There are many subjects I should like to discuss with you and if ever you are in London I should like to see you; & if ever you have time to answer this kindly send it to my club; The Wellington 1 Governor Place S.W as this is only an Hotel.

Yours faithfully | Edward A. Hall [signature]