Sir.

I duly received your letter of the 20^th.² I am greatly indebted for trouble in my behalf: and favourable impression you have made upon D^r. Hooker; as shown by his kind & encouraging letter.³ I can only express my most cordial thanks, and a hope that if through your influence with D^r. Hooker; he obtains for me a colonial appointment, you will have no cause to regret having exercised your influence in behalf of one, of whom you know so little. I will do my best to give satisfaction: In respect to D^r. Hookers letter permit me to ask you for a few hints—at some future time—as to mental qualifications required; that I may apply myself more directly to the cultivation of such. I am painfully alive to the defects of an imperfect education; circumstances, having compelled me to finish it just at that period, when I was beginning to acquire a taste for learning.⁴

Prof. Balfour seems to be not a little offended with me, for refusing the Darjeling situation.⁵ I hope, however, he will soon forget it. I feel assured he would have given me an excellent recommendation to D^r. Anderson:⁶ and I shall certainly make it my earnest endeavour to merit it no less in the future. I thank you for judicious counsel respecting duties to M^r. M^c.Nab.⁷ I have always been very careful that my experiments do not in the least interfere with my other duties; and I am glad to say—that—so far as I am aware—he is perfectly satisfied with me in this respect, and would I believe readily recommend me. If ever he had given me the slightest grounds for supposing that experiments were interfering with my duties to him, I would at once have restricted them, but he has given me no cause for such suspicions. It was very natural, however, for Dr. Hooker to suppose such. I cannot say what is the exact cause of his colder and less encouraging treatment: but for some months back there has been clearly a great change, in bestowal of voluntary privileges. I was—and am—much grieved at observing this; as I previously thought that he had a kindly interest in my advancement. Rest assured, however, that though, unfortunately—working in perfect ignorance of the real cause of his changed demeanour, I will do my utmost to please him as to performance of duties. At present—I am sorry to say for him—I have more opportunities for doing so than ever: nearly all his duties in connection with Botanic Class having devolved upon me—he being unable to attend to them.⁸

I will have a care that neither Dr. Balfour nor M^r. M^c.Nab know anything respecting Dr. Hooker’s letter: as I much fear your suspicion would otherwise be immediately verified.⁹

In conclusion, I would beg you to excuse this long detail of personal matters: they have interfered unpleasantly with our other correspondence. I would also again acknowledge how deeply I feel indebted for the kind and active interest you have taken in me. It would afford me a pleasure to be able to make you any return: for I have no right to trouble you with such matters. The experiments which you have already suggested, I will attend to: if there are any others which you would like me to try—if within my power—I will gladly undertake them.¹⁰

I will now turn to the scientific part of letter. In respect to closing of stigma in Orchids: I will yet attend to your hint, as to affinities required.¹¹ From observations on closing of orifice it occurred to me on reading Bolbolophyllum case, that foreign pollen might possibly induce it;¹² I had, however, at the time I performed experiments on this point, my Cypripedium Oncidium & the Trichopilia in flower: so that my observations are not at all numerous. I feel perfectly satisfied, however that they are correct: having applied pollen to a few flowers, and extracted a little of it a few days after, when I distinctly saw pollen-tubes. I did not observe—as I ought—the depth these penetrated: the flowers were allowed to remain until quite withered: orifice likewise remaining open.

I thank you for kind offer respecting Primula work. I will draw up a paper, when I have seen results of present experiments, and forward. I will be glad indeed if you consider it worthy of communicating to the Linn. Soc. I do not think such papers are much cared for here.¹³ I am rather afraid now that the abstract of Orchid paper sent you, will be all that is published of it in Proceedings of Bot. Soc.¹⁴ From the great interest & importance which your works & correspondence has attached to such questions in my mind, I have often wondered at the low estimate in which they appear to be held here. Your remarks in late letters enlighten me: and here of course anything that savours of the “Origin” is not at all palatable!¹⁵ Nevertheless, I, having a strong conviction of its truthful teachings, would not on account of such dogmatic prejudices—for I cannot think they are aught else—sacrifice the “integrity of my own mind”. As Emerson has expressed it;— “Bravely let us speak the utmost syllable of our confession .... nor be ashamed of that divine idea which each of us represents”¹⁶— so would I did my qualifications permit.

Thanks for corroboration of P. longiflora, you will observe it with a note mentioned in list formerly transmitted as non-dimorphic.¹⁷ P. verticillata is peculiar. In my list you will find it approaching the non-dimorphic state. The majority of flowers upon a plant which I am experimenting upon at present, have Stamens & Styles equal: both being included within corolla tubes: the others have styles slightly exserted beyond tubes. In a specimen which I have lately examined in the University Herbarium I find a truly long-styled form—anthers near the middle styles reaching the mouth of corolla-tube.¹⁸

P. floribunda appears to present similar peculiarities. In list you will find it referred to short-styled form, with note on the occurrence of a non-dimorphic form. This I have again found presented by another specimen, while another, has presented one with the long-styled condition. Of P. floribunda I have no plants for experiments, and of P. verticillata I have only the non-dimorphic form; which appears to be perfectly self-fertile.¹⁹ I believe I have been successful in application of its pollen to long & short-styled P. Auricula.²⁰ I am extremely curious to see results of this from a case which I will presently refer to, and on account of which I should have liked much to have tested the reciprocal sexual relations of these apparently trimorphic species.

The sexual relations of the non-dimorphic Cowslip referred to in late letter, appear to be very different from what I expected!²¹ It seems to have undergone a special differentiation: being all but inert in its action as male on long & short-styled forms—capsules being very small—as female, pollen being applied from the latter form it promises to be more productive—capsules being larger. The size of respective capsules farther illustrates, I think a fact which you have already pointed out, viz that short-styled form is more feminine in nature &c &c.²² Capsules on short-styled plants are larger than those on long-styled—both being fertilised with non-dimorphic form. Again those flowers on the latter fertilised with long-styled pollen have larger capsules than those fertilised with short-styled! I did not at all anticipate such results: and I am now sorry that I did not make more numerous experiments with these forms. They have surprised me much; indeed, perplexed me. Since you have mentioned case of Linum Lewisii—which is much like a case of mere variability—there will be no harm I think in giving the above case.²³ I am inclined to regard such cases as somewhat discordant with your views that these qualities have been slowly acquired. Analogous cases have been already passed by your numerous critics so I may be wrong.

Another curious fact which I have lately discovered respecting non-dimorphic Auriculas— will I think interest you. The few plants which I have observed in this state, agree with that mentioned by you in Primula paper, in having even smaller pollen-grains than the normal long-styled form: differing in this respect from the above Cowslip.²⁴ In crossing with the long & short styled forms, I find that with the former the capsules are very small: larger & finer with the latter: which is favourable to your opinion that it is a case of abnormal developement of anthers. The self-fertilised capsules on non-dimorphic form are larger than those produced by homomorphic crosses!

I am glad to find that the abstract of my Orchid paper interests you.²⁵ I am also greatly obliged for the few critical remarks you have made.²⁶ I now see that I would have rendered the case of O. sphacelatum much more striking if I had stated it as you have done. I wished to state it in as forcible a manner as possible but you see how signally I have failed! I have had so little experience. Your analysis of sentence on self-impotence, shows me how unfortunately I have expressed myself. It appears now so self-evident that I cannot help wondering how it escaped me! I thank you most sincerely for these criticisms: I will do my best to improve style, which is one of the greatest difficulties I have to contend with. I have no command of language, no power of expression; and I am afraid from the little knowledge I have of mental phenomena, that I will never overcome this; which I fear will eventually give me quite a distaste for writing. I often wonder at and envy you for that happy faculty of expressing the most recondite ideas in language which a child might almost understand

I have made no experiments on Lobelia fulgens. I forgot when I wrote last your experiments on this plant in “Origin” and was writing under the impression that Gartner regarded it as absolutely sterile with own-pollen. while a friend of mine had succeeded in seeding it by fertilising it with own-pollen.²⁷ I see, however, that I have misapprehended this case.

Are you making any experiments in Linum Lewisii? It will be interesting from above case of Cowslip to test the reciprocal sexual relations. We have plants in the Gardens; if you think it worth while, and are not already engaged with it, I will make a few experiments: if plants present the trimorphic condition.

You ask if non-dimorphic Cowslip be the common yellow?²⁸ It is a red variety of this approaching the form generally known as rubra.

I have not yet succeeded in experiments on self-fertilisation of Orchids, by preventing expansion of perianth.²⁹ I have seen pollen-tubes however developed by such means in a flower of Bletia Tankervillia: but all the others which I had thus treat dropped off, the capsules giving no indications of swelling. As there have been few species in flower, however, in the Gardens since the idea occurred to me, I have not been able to make my experiments: but I have no doubt that I will yet be able to demonstrate it.

I remain | Sir | Yours very respectfully | John Scott

P.S. I intended sending corrected copy of “Orchid paper to Gard. Chron.³⁰ Before doing so I went to Prof. Balfour thinking that he might not have sent the copy off. I was too late however, and, being busy he said he would look it over after, and see whether it would be worth while sending it. My astonishment was great next morning when his assistant told me that he considered the corrections unnecessary. I of course was silent; though I thought it strange that the Prof. could so express himself. I am pleased to find that you have a different opinion in respect to this. | J. Scott.