18431862] VITALITY OF SEEDS 247 



send my very small case of the charlock ; but as it required Letter 579 



some space to give all details, perhaps Lindley will not insert ; 



and if he does, you, you worse than an unbelieving dog, will 



not, I know, believe. The reason I do not care to try Mr. 



Bentham's plan is that I think it would be very troublesome, 



and it would not, if I did not find seed, convince me myself 



that none were in the earth, for 1 have found in my salting 



experiments that the earth clings to the seeds, and the seeds 



are very difficult to find. Whether washing would do I know 



not ; a gold-washer would succeed, I daresay. 



To W. J. Hooker. Letter 580 



Testimonial from Charles Darwin, Esq., M.A., F.R.S. and G.S., 

 late Naturalist to Captain FitzRoy's Voyage. 



Down House, Farnborough, August 251)1, 1845. 



I have heard with much interest that your son, Dr. 

 Hooker, is a candidate for the Botanical Chair at Edinburgh. 

 From my former attendance at that University, I am aware 

 how important a post it is for the advancement of science, 

 and I am therefore the more anxious for your son's success, 

 from my firm belief that no one will fulfil its duties with 

 greater zeal or ability. Since his return from the famous 

 Antarctic expedition, I have had, as you arc aware, much 

 communication with him, with respect to the collections 

 brought home by myself, and on other scientific subjects ; 

 and 1 cannot express too strongly my admiration at the 

 accuracy of his varied knowledge, and at his powers of 

 generalisation. From Dr. Hooker's disposition, no one, in 

 my opinion, is more fitted to communicate to beginners 

 a strong taste for those pursuits to which he is himself so 

 ardently devoted. For the sake of the advancement of Botany 

 in all its branches, your son has my warmest wishes for his 

 success. 



To J. D. Hooker. Letter sgl 



Down, Thursday [June nth, 1847]. 



Many thanks for your kindness about the lodgings it 

 \\ill be of great use to me. 1 Please let me know the address 

 if Mr. Jacobson succeeds, for I think I shall go on the 22nd 

 and write previously to my lodgings. I have since had 



1 The British Association met at Oxford in 1847. 



