My dear Mr Darwin

I have not shewn your letter to Caird: but I saw him yesterday and he and I quite agreed that a letter from you indorsed by Hooker would carry as much weight either with the Government or any one else as if it had the names of a score of FRS’s appended.¹ But we both doubted whether, supposing a small sum, say £100 or £200 to be wanted it would not be more easily obtained from private persons than from the Gov^t.

At any rate we agreed that if you could get Hooker to write a line saying that he agrees with your letter—we would try to make the best use of it. I therefore return it to you for this purpose.

There is one point not quite clear to me: and as it is possible some enthusiastic agriculturist may be tempted to make experiments, it might be worth while to make it full & clear.

How is the experiment of cross fertilization to be made, or rather continued? We have now certain seeds which Mr Torbitt has produced. They will be sown this year—(1878) and next autumn we shall see if the plants & tubers are free from disease? Now my question is this. Are the tubers thus found free from disease to be planted next year (1879): keeping those of the different plants separate: and are the flowers of these different plants to be then cross fertilized: and the seeds arising from them sown again in 1880 and so on?

Or are the plants which come up this year to be cross fertilized—before we know whether they are free from disease or not?

The former would seem to be the more certain though the longer plan. Indeed in the latter plan there would be much random work.

If you think this question worth answering you will add something to your letter—which is quite short as it is— I can get any copying done.— And if when Hooker has added what he has to say you will send it to Caird or to me we will see what can be done with it

Sincerely yours | T H Farrer