18621871] JOHN SCOTT 319 



orchids 1 and on Drosera? Thanks for [note] about Campanula Letter 642 

 perfoliata. I have asked Asa Gray for seeds, to whom I have 

 mentioned your observations on rostellum, and asked him to 

 look closer to the case of Gymnadenia? Let me hear about the 

 sporting Imatophyllum if it flowers. Perhaps I have blundered 

 about Primula ; but certainly not about mere protrusion of 

 pollen-tubes. I have been idly watching bees of several genera 

 and diptera fertilising O. morio at this place, and it is a very 

 pretty sight. I have confirmed in several ways the entire truth 

 of my statement that there is no vestige of nectar in the spur ; 

 but the insects perforate the inner coat. This seems to me a 

 curious little fact, which none of my reviewers have noticed. 



To J. D. Hooker. 



Down, May 23rd [1863]. 



You can confer a real service on a good man, John Scott, Letter 6 43 

 the writer of the enclosed letter, by reading it and giving me 

 your opinion. I assure [you] John Scott is a truly remarkable 

 man. The part struck out is merely that he is not comfort- 

 able under Mr. McNab, and this part must be considered as 

 private. Now the question is, what think you of the offer ? Is 

 expense of living high at Darjeeling ? May I say it is healthy ? 

 Will he find the opportunity for experimental observations, 

 which are a passion with him ? It seems to me rather low pay. 

 Will you advise me for him ? I shall say that as far as ex- 

 periments in hand at the Botanical Garden in Edinburgh are 

 concerned, it would be a pity to hesitate to accept the offer. 



J. Scott is head of the propagating department I know 

 you will not grudge aiding by your advice a good man. I 

 shall tell him that I have not the slightest power to aid him 

 in any way for the appointment. I should think voyage out 

 and home ought to be paid for ? 



1 " On the Individual Sterility and Cross- Impregnation of Certain 

 Species of Oncidium" [Read June 2nd, 1864.] Linn. Soc. Journal^ VIII., 

 1865. This paper gives a full account of the self-sterility of Oncidium 

 in cases where the pollen was efficient in fertilising other individuals of 

 the same species and of distinct species. Some of the facts were given 

 in Scott's paper, " Experiments on the Fertilisation of Orchids in the 

 Royal Botanic Garden of Edinburgh," published in the Proc. Bot. Soc. 

 Edinb., 1863. It is probably to the latter paper that Darwin refers. 



2 Trans. Bot. Soc. Edinburgh^ Vol. VII. 



3 See Fertilisation of Orchids^ Ed. II., p. 68. 



