To J. D. Hooker 28 [February 1878]1
4. Bryanston St.
Thursday 28th
My dear Hooker
You will probably receive a printed letter from Mr Torbitt, giving the results of the selection & cross-fertilisation of Potatoes.2 I beg you to read it with care; for I have just had interview with Farrer on subject & he is is going to speak to the Duke of Richmond’s Secretary, & other influential men, if after considering the subject, he should agree with me that it would be a dreadful pity if hundreds of thousands of cross-fertilised seeds from already partially selected parents were thrown away.3
He thinks that if the Government is inclined to take it up, they will apply to you for advice.— Mr Torbitt says he cannot afford to go on without some aid in money.— If aided he will continue his experiments4
Pray reflect on difference in varieties of Vitis in resisting Phylloxera— of apples in resisting Coccus— of Peaches in resisting mildew &c &c.—5 These cases make me hopeful that Mr. T. may succeed, & indeed he seems to have been partially successful already, but he is dreadfully enthusiastic.— He does not want payment for 3 past years only aid in future.—
I can write no more.— Am so unwell that we have come to London for change & rest.6
Yours affect | C. Darwin
I hear you have sent more Cycas seeds to Down—particularly obliged— have ordered them to be sown properly.7
Footnotes
Bibliography
Correspondence: The correspondence of Charles Darwin. Edited by Frederick Burkhardt et al. 29 vols to date. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1985–.
Movement in plants: The power of movement in plants. By Charles Darwin. Assisted by Francis Darwin. London: John Murray. 1880.
Summary
CD solicits JDH’s aid in obtaining Government funds for James Torbitt’s efforts to breed disease resistance in potatoes.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-11380
- From
- Charles Robert Darwin
- To
- Joseph Dalton Hooker
- Sent from
- London, Bryanston St, 4
- Source of text
- DAR 95: 449–50
- Physical description
- ALS 4pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 11380,” accessed on 26 September 2022, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-11380.xml