From Francis Darwin to J. H. Gilbert 8 June 1876
Summary
Asks about constituents of burnt soil.
Author: | Francis Darwin |
Addressee: | Joseph Henry Gilbert |
Date: | 8 June 1876 |
Classmark: | Rothamsted Research (GIL13) |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10535F |
From David Forbes 1 March 1872
Summary
Sends information on composition of chalk at Shoreham and Folkestone.
Author: | David Forbes |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 1 Mar 1872 |
Classmark: | DAR 164: 149 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-8233 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … low water Folkestone Carbonate of lime 94·09 — of Magnesium 0·31 Insoluble (rock …
Kennard, C. A. (1827–1907)
Matches: 1 hit
- … as Springfield Daily Republican; Date: 09-19-1896; Page: 4; Location: Springfield, …
From Asa Gray 22 May 1877
Summary
Asked C. E. Bessey whether Lithospermum longiflorum was dimorphic like its relatives. Encloses CEB’s reply.
Author: | Asa Gray |
Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
Date: | 22 May 1877 |
Classmark: | DAR 110: B53–7, DAR 165: 196 |
Letter no: | DCP-LETT-10969 |
Matches: 1 hit
- … Corolla 1.14 Style .95 Stamens .98 Anthers .09 Pollen falling freely. Plant No 4 Flower 7 …
Darwin, Francis | (1) |
Forbes, David | (1) |
Gray, Asa | (1) |
Darwin, C. R. | (2) |
Gilbert, J. H. | (1) |
Darwin, C. R. | (2) |
Darwin, Francis | (1) |
Forbes, David | (1) |
Gilbert, J. H. | (1) |
Gray, Asa | (1) |
Life sciences in Commentary

The evolution of honeycomb
Summary
Honeycombs are natural engineering marvels, using the least possible amount of wax to provide the greatest amount of storage space, with the greatest possible structural stability. Darwin recognised that explaining the evolution of the honey-bee’s comb…
Matches: 1 hits
- … first beginnings of the comb (letter to W. B. Tegetmeier, 9 May [1858] ). He suspected that the …

Was Darwin an ecologist?
Summary
One of the most fascinating aspects of Charles Darwin’s correspondence is the extent to which the experiments he performed at his home in Down, in the English county of Kent, seem to prefigure modern scientific work in ecology.

Darwin’s hothouse and lists of hothouse plants
Summary
Darwin became increasingly involved in botanical experiments in the years after the publication of Origin. The building of a small hothouse - a heated greenhouse - early in 1863 greatly increased the range of plants that he could keep for scientific…
Matches: 5 hits
- … Orchids , p. 158 n., and Correspondence vols. 9 and 10). However, he found it increasingly …
- … £22 5s. for Horwood, who superintended the operation, and £9 15s. 10d. for fittings purchased in …
- … —— Russelianum 9 do. …
- … J. D. Hooker, 24[–5] February [1863] and n. 19. 9. Catasetum Russellianum. 10. ‘—— …
- … Lopezia axilare 8 Onagreæ 9 …

Insectivorous plants
Summary
Darwin’s work on insectivorous plants began by accident. While on holiday in the summer of 1860, staying with his wife’s relatives in Hartfield, Sussex, he went for long walks on the heathland and became curious about the large number of insects caught by…
Matches: 1 hits
- … some pure gum.— You have given me a panic. I tried milk on 9 leaves thin Gelatine on 4 White of egg …