Dear Sir,

Being in conversation the other day with my Father respecting his crossing the Cacti, he said he found them quite fertile and averaged three seeds to a fruit, but the seeds varied very much in the period of germination, he had crossed some several times—¹ the following I took from his dictation as I thought it might interest you

〈Respe〉cting the fertility of hybrids:

1

The Hybrid Cactus, Jenkensoni, reproduced with one parent viz Epiphyllum Speciosum;—

2

The Hybrid Cereus Cactus, Mallisoni, reproduced, with Epiphyllum Ackermani;

3—

Cactus Jenkensoni, itself a hybrid of Epiphyllum Speciosum, and Cereus Speciosissimus—reproduced with the Hybrid Cereus Mallisoni, which was produced between Cereus Speciosissimus and Cereus Flagelliformis— or it may be stated thus.

Epiphyllum Speciosum

and produced Jenkensoni.

Cereus Speciosissimus reproduced a compound

hybrid not named— [LEAVE A SPACE HERE BETWEEN DIAGS]

Cereus Speciosissimus

and produced Mallisoni

Cereus Flagelliformis

Unfortunately my Father has no memoranda of his crosses nor did he have any of his productions named. but I think you may rely on the the truth of the abo〈ve〉

〈A〉 second Sow Guinea pig went 〈to〉 boar on the 13^th. inst. I have 〈p〉ut her in a hutch by the fire and shall keep her as warm as I can, the one that went on May 25^th. is out of doors in a north aspect and as cold as I can place her, so I hope to see if temperature has any effect.²

Miss Watts in a recent letter wished me to inform you she found the Crested fowls stupid but she puts in a word for her favourite Brahmas— I enclose that part of her letter.³

I am | Dear Sir | Your’s sincerly | B P Brent

To C Darwin Esq^r.