Letter 3922
Darwin, C. R. to Rivers, Thomas
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Can TR distinguish generally, always, or never, a nectarine-tree from a peach-tree before it flowers or before it fruits? He wants to quote TR's answer.
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17
My dear Sir
Will you permit me to ask one more question; Can you
distinguish generally, always, or never a nectarine tree from a Peach before
it flowers or before it fruits. I sh
Yours sincerely | C. Darwin
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- f1 3922.f1
The date is established by the relationship between this letter and the letters to Thomas Rivers, 11 January [1863] and 15 January [1863]. - +
- f2 3922.f2
In December 1862, CD began writing chapter 11 of Variation, dealing with bud-variation, and initiated a correspondence with Rivers, a renowned Hertfordshire nurseryman (see Correspondence vol. 10, letters to Thomas Rivers, 23 December [1862] and 28 December [1862]). See also letters to Thomas Rivers, 7 January [1863], 11 January [1863], and 15 January [1863]. - +
- f3 3922.f3
In Variation 1: 340, CD cited Rivers as the authority for his statement that the fruit of the peach and nectarine differed in appearance and flavour, but the trees differed `in no other respects', and could not even be distinguished `whilst young'.