Darwin Correspondence Project

Down Bromley Kent

21st

My dear Sir

I am infinitely obliged for your note. The first thought which occurred to me was endosmose (& I tried olive oil & wine).— I have tried so many experiments that I cannot think I am in error. I rely much in the case of the saliva experiments on the diminishing effect of weaker & weaker doses. Sulphate & Muriate of Ammonia, Nitrate of Potash & N. of Lime produce none or hardly any effect. With respect to the Vegetable fluids I rely on nitrogenous fluid placed on the same leaves subsequently causing contraction, whereas the vegetable matters produced no effect.—

Nothing ought to be placed under the leaf as a support, for I have ascertained (in our Drosera) that irritation on the smooth under side of leaf causes contraction.

So small a drop ought to be put on as not to entangle the marginal hairs, as the act of drying of a viscid fluid mechanically draws the hairs together.—

Are you sure that there is no glue with your gum? I tried pure white gum & it produced no action at all. Nor did syrup of white sugar or starch.— For Heaven sake try some pure gum.— You have given me a panic. I tried

I have not tried vegetable fluid so largely only 3 or 4 leaves for each; for absolutely no effect was produced.

Believe me that I am truly grateful for your cautions.—

In Haste | Yours very sincerely | C. Darwin

I start for sea-side tomorrow, but letters will be forwarded to me.

P.S | Does not the sourness of your gum prove that it has fermented? And does not fermentation imply that there has been some nitrogenised matter in it? I am nearly sure that yeast is nitrogenised. Most cryptogamic plants certainly contain nitrogen.— For Heaven sake dissolve fresh pure, white gum & try again.

The inflection of disc of leaf itself, when it occurs is the best of all evidence.—

I fully believe, I have now ascertained that 12880 of grain of N. of Ammonia occasionally suffices with young & very sensitive leaf—, so that scrupulous care is requisite.—