My dear Mr Darwin

I inclose a bit of Ledum which if not insectivorous—is certainly ferociously insecticide. I dont see it mentioned in your book: and possibly it is purely gratuitous malice and not self-interest which makes its sticky nectar the death of so many creatures.¹ It is curious & painful to see them get their long legs fast to the style, & then gradually get more & more [involved].

I have been much struck with our Primulas this beautiful spring.— We have plenty of wild primroses & cowslips: and here and there an oxlip—(qu)—and primroses & oxlips I have seen run into one another.²

But Payne is proud of his Polyanthuses & Coloured Primulas and has them all about the shrubberies.³ They and the wild ones both seed themselves: and it seems to me that we are getting almost every kind of step & variety—in habit—ie—in umbel—& nonumbel—in close or open flower—and in colour, between primrose cowslip & polyanthus.— In a group of cowslips some will begin to get a more open flower: some to hold up their heads: some to have a deeper & richer orange—some longer pedicels to each flower—till we almost get a polyanthus—. The pink & mauve primulas elongate their stems & become umbelliferous. There seems to be no constant character. Some vary in a very ugly way by turning the flower into something like a shabby calyx.

Why should the Lady smock on our lawn become double, & form a handsome spike: whilst that in the field remains with its usual single flowers & flat head? It is neither soil, aspect or shade. Double flowers are a great puzzle⁴

I hope Payne has sent the Stipa to Frank⁵

Sincerely yours | T H Farrer