To T. H. Farrer [28 February 1878] 1
4, Bryanston St.
Thursday Evening.
My dear Farrer.
I was extremely glad to get your note.2 You & Mr Caird will, I think, do a good dead, if you can get the Agricul. Socy, to sow & rear, one good parcel of the cross fertilised seeds from the already partially selected parents, & I cannot doubt that Mr Torbitt will gladly give seeds & tubers to the Agricultl. Soc.—3 This Soc would also be a most excellent channel for the distribution of any variety fungus proof or nearly fungus proof— On the other hand I know how laborious & wearisome the work would be and I cannot avoid the doubt, whether the trial would be energetically carried on without paternal care. It is astonishing how few persons have patience for long continued experimental work— Therefore I still think if it were possible to get a grant of a few hundred pounds it would be money well spent to permit Mr. Torbitt to carry on the work for a year or two longer in addition to the work carried on by the Agricultural Society. But, I shall be able to judge better when I hear from him.— I have asked him expressly what sum he would require—4 If he is half inclined to go on for another year without aid, I will offer him 100£ from myself; so promising do I think the experiment.
With hearty thanks for your excellent assistance.
Yours very sincerely. | Ch. Darwin.
Footnotes
Summary
THF would do a good deal if he gets Agricultural Society to rear cross-fertilised seeds. Society excellent channel for distribution of fungus-proof variety [of potato]. If James Torbitt will carry on work another year, CD will offer him £100.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-11388
- From
- Charles Robert Darwin
- To
- Thomas Henry Farrer, 1st baronet and 1st Baron Farrer
- Sent from
- London, Bryanston St, 4
- Source of text
- DAR 144: 87
- Physical description
- C 2pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 11388,” accessed on 19 April 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-11388.xml