Dear Sir

Your letter seems a very good one, and you are perfectly at liberty to have it published in any form you may think fit.¹

I know little of public affairs, but fear that our governing men are so ignorant of science and so immersed in political squabbles that they will do nothing. It would be a great misfortune if your seeds are wasted. I would suggest your sending a copy of your letter to T. H. Farrer, Esq^re., Board of Trade, Whitehall, London. He is the head of office, and a friend of mine and scientific. I am going to London to-morrow for change and rest, as I am very poorly (and this must excuse this ill-expressed and ill-written note) and will see Mr. Farrer and talk to him on the subject. Mr. Farrer is brother-in-law of Chancellor of the Exchequer. I fear that there will be great difficulties.²

Could you undertake the continuation of the experiments, if aided by a moderate grant of money or a subscription from a few friends of the cause? They are so overworked at the R. Gardens at Kew I do not think the work could there be undertaken.

Send a copy to Sir J. Hooker,³ K.C.S.I., Kew Gardens: mark with red or blue passages quoted from me, as this will call his attention to them.

If even a moderate stock of a sound variety was once raised I should think a great salesman like the Messrs. Carter would cultivate and dispose of them; and thus they would be best distributed.⁴ You will understand that I know nothing of your circumstances and one of Mr. Farrer’s first questions probably will be “Does Mr. Torbitt require to be repaid for expences already incurred? or, has he worked solely for patriotic purposes?” Will you kindly answer immediately my several questions:—addressing your letter to me, as on enclosed slip.

Yours very faithfully | Ch. Darwin.