To Journal of Horticulture [before 2 December 1862]1
As you have been so obliging as to insert my query on the crossing of Strawberries,2 perhaps you will grant me the favour to insert two or three other questions, for the chance of some one having the kindness to answer them. I am writing a book on “Variation under Domestication,” in which I treat chiefly on animals; but I wish to give some few facts on the changes of cultivated plants.3
1st. The fruit of the wild Gooseberry is said to weigh about 5 dwts. (I am surprised that it is so heavy), and from various records I find that towards the close of the last century the fruit had doubled in weight; in 1817, a weight of 26 dwts. 17 grs. was obtained; in 1825, 31 dwts. 13 grs.; in 1841, “Wonderful” weighed 32 dwts. 16 grs.; in 1845, “London” reached the astonishing weight of 36 dwts. 16 grs., or 880 grains. I find in the “Gooseberry Register” for 1862,4 that this famous kind attained only the weight of 29 dwts. 8 grs., and was beaten by “Antagonist.” Will any one have the kindness to inform me whether it is authentically known that the weight of 36 dwts. 16 grs., has, since the year 1845, been ever excelled?
2nd. Is any record kept of the diameter attained by the largest Pansies? I have read of one above 2 inches in diameter, which is a surprising size compared with the flowers of the wild Viola tricolor, and the allied species or varieties.5
3rd. How early does any variety of the Dahlia flower? Mr. Salisbury, writing in 1808, shortly after the first introduction of this plant into England, speaks of their flowering from September, or the end of September, to November.6 Whereas, Mr. J. Wells, in Loudon’s “Gardener’s Magazine” for 1828, states that some of his dwarf kinds began flowering in June.7 I presume the end of June. Do any of the varieties now regularly flower as early as June? Have any varieties been observed to withstand frost better than other varieties?8
If any one will give me information on these small points, I shall feel greatly obliged.— Chas. Darwin, Down, Bromley. Kent.
Footnotes
Bibliography
Correspondence: The correspondence of Charles Darwin. Edited by Frederick Burkhardt et al. 29 vols to date. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1985–.
Desmond, Ray. 1994. Dictionary of British and Irish botanists and horticulturists including plant collectors, flower painters and garden designers. New edition, revised with the assistance of Christine Ellwood. London: Taylor & Francis and the Natural History Museum. Bristol, Pa.: Taylor & Francis.
DNB: Dictionary of national biography. Edited by Leslie Stephen and Sidney Lee. 63 vols. and 2 supplements (6 vols.). London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1912. Dictionary of national biography 1912–90. Edited by H. W. C. Davis et al. 9 vols. London: Oxford University Press. 1927–96.
Marginalia: Charles Darwin’s marginalia. Edited by Mario A. Di Gregorio with the assistance of Nicholas W. Gill. Vol. 1. New York and London: Garland Publishing. 1990.
Salisbury, Richard Anthony. 1808. Observations on the different species of Dahlia, and the best method of cultivating them in Great Britain. [Read 5 April 1808.] Transactions of the Horticultural Society of London 1 (1812): 84–98.
Variation: The variation of animals and plants under domestication. By Charles Darwin. 2 vols. London: John Murray. 1868.
Summary
Asks for authentic information on following questions: 1. Has the weight of the gooseberry variety London subsequently exceeded the 1845 record of 880 grains?
2. Is any record kept of the diameter of the largest pansies?
3. How early does any variety of Dahlia flower and do some varieties withstand frost better than others?
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-3840
- From
- Charles Robert Darwin
- To
- Journal of Horticulture
- Sent from
- Down
- Source of text
- Journal of Horticulture, Cottage Gardener, and Country Gentleman n.s. 3 (1862): 696
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 3840,” accessed on 19 April 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-3840.xml
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 10