18621871] JOHN SCOTT 323 



interest in studying all your facts on Primula, when they are Letter 646 

 worked out and the seed counted. Size of capsules is often 

 very deceptive. I am astonished how you can find time to 

 make so many experiments. If you like to send me your 

 paper tolerably well written, I would look it over and suggest 

 any criticisms ; but then this would cause you extra copying. 

 Remember, however, that Lord Brougham habitually wrote 

 everything important three times over. The cases of the 

 Primula which lose by variation their dimorphic characters 

 seem to me very interesting. I find that the mid-styled (by 

 variation) P. sinensis is more fertile with own pollen, even, 

 than a heteromorphic union ! If you have time it will be 

 very good to experiment on Linum Lewisii. I wrote formerly 

 to Asa Gray begging for seed. If you have time, I think 

 experiments on any peloric flowers would be useful. I shall 

 be sorry (and I am certain it is a mistake on the part of the 

 Society) if your orchid paper is not printed in extenso. I am 

 now at work compiling all such cases, and shall give a very 

 full abstract of all your observations. I hope to add in 

 autumn some from you on Passiflora. I would suggest to 

 you the advantage, at present, of being very sparing in intro- 

 ducing theory in your papers (I formerly erred much in 

 Geology in that way) : let theory guide your observations, but 

 till your reputation is well established be sparing in publish- 

 ing theory. It makes persons doubt your observations. How 

 rarely R. Brown ever indulged in theory: too seldom perhaps ! 

 Do not work too hard, and do not be discouraged because 

 your work is not appreciated by the majority. 



To J. Scott Letter 647 



July 2nd [1863?] 



Many thanks for capsules. I would give table of the 

 Auricula^ especially owing to enclosed extract, which you 

 can quote. Your facts about varying fertility of the primulas 

 will be appreciated by but very few botanists ; but I feel sure 

 that the day will come when they will be valued. By no 

 means modify even in the slightest degree any result. Accu- 

 racy is the soul of Natural History. It is hard to become 

 accurate ; he who modifies a hair's breadth will never be 



1 In Scott's paper (Linn. Soc. Journ. VIII.) many experiments on the 

 Auricula are recorded. 



