My dear W.

Send me dry in paper a few youngish flowers of two males, that I may put pollen of both close together under microscope. Attend well to gradation between the 2 males & between the 2 females— I feel great interest in your discovery, if it will but hold good.—²

Please send 3 or 4 twigs, about as thick as tobacco-pipes, (of last year’s shoots bearing this year’s sprouts) of all 4 forms, & we will try whether they will strike, but the chance is poor.—³ Tie up & damp each lot of 3 or 4 separately; ; & then tie 4 bundles close together into one & perhaps roll the whole in tin-foil.— I will repay postage—but it need not be more than about a shilling—

Your affect. Father | C. Darwin

Thanks for note by George about ovules.⁴ I suppose there is no difference in length of stamens in the 2 males.—⁵

I wish to Heaven pollen-grains had not been largest in your “pistillate males”:—⁶

Hooker is here & very pleasant.⁷ I have been telling him about Rhamnus & he is much surprised; but I fear, I fear.

Does Rhamnus grow in sandy, or clay soil— In sun or shade??⁸