From W. E. Darwin [26–8 June 1866]1
Langton.
I have had a great struggle with Buckthorn, & most unfortunately, I went over rather too late as it was a little past; I have finished very accurate measurements of the males, & have the females in spirits while my microscope is being done up; I think it must be only some sort of variation, but I should like you to see the measurements some time.2
Your affect son | W. E. Darwin
CD annotations
2.1 I have … up; 2.3] crossed red crayon
Footnotes
The date range is established by the relationship between this letter, the letter from W. E. Darwin, [23 June 1866], and the letter from W. E. Darwin, 29 June [1866] (Correspondence vol. 14).
William had collected flowers of buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) on the Isle of Wight on 26 June 1866 (see Correspondence vol. 14, letter from W. E. Darwin, [23 June 1866]). Buckthorn typically flowers from May to June in England. William later sent sketches of the pollen taken from different forms of the flower (see Correspondence vol. 14, letter from W. E. Darwin, 29 June [1866]).
Summary
He has had a great struggle with Buckthorn, and would like CD to see the measurements some time.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-5136F
- From
- William Erasmus Darwin
- To
- Charles Robert Darwin
- Source of text
- Cornford Family Papers (DAR 275: 28)
- Physical description
- ALS inc 2pp †
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 5136F,” accessed on 26 May 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-5136F.xml
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 24 (Supplement)
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