My Dear Sir,

I beg to send you with this a copy of a review of your works, which appeared in the Penn Monthly since I left America, and which has just been mailed to me.¹ I should have sent it to you with more pleasure had I been able wholly to agree with you,—for I do not know that I am indebted to anything so much as your works for the pleasure I have derived in the life studies of plants.

There is however one thing which has much pleased me in a perusal of your last work. It is of course known to you, that much of the work on “Self fertilization and cross fertilization”, which has been done in America, though not nominally, yet has been really prompted by my own,—that is has been the work of friends who thought I was extreme in my views as regards those which you hold. I see now why you thought my Detroit paper extravagent in its presentation of views I was opposing—² You did not know how much further your friends had advanced than yourself. It is now clear that I am much more in accord with you than with some of your friends. One whom I am proud to call my friend also, Prof. Asa Gray, with that generous candor which I have always found in him when thoroughly convinced, has written to me that he is now satisfied that there is far more self fertilization among flowers than he had supposed until your book appeared. There is no difference between us now except as to the proper interpretation of the facts of cross fertilization.³

I was interested in noting here, where Yucca gloriosa is flowering freely, that it is visited by Honey bees, and more abundantly by other insects which come out of the flowers when the plant is jarred,—but are too far away from the eye for identification. It does not mature seed here,— it seems as if only the Pronuba Yuccasella can fertilize the Yucca, but, as you are no doubt aware, the Pronuba fertilizes the flower with its own pollen,—and it seems to me a great mystery why the plant should not be arranged to use any itself, and not be necessitated to have insect aid in the use of its own pollen.⁴

I leave England again for America by the Indiana from Liverpool for Philadelphia 18^th. of July,—but shall be in London (care of Editor of Garden)⁵ during the week 6^th–13^th. In my arrangements I should have planned a brief call on you, but feel how much you must be impeded in your labors by visitors and correspondents, as I am when at home,—and so I have brought myself to be satisfied with the infliction of this review and accompanying letter on you.

Very truly Yours | Thomas Meehan