1 868]. OF FLOWERS. 277 



PS. — I send by this post my paper on climbing plants, parts 

 of which you might like to read. 



[Sir Thomas Farrer and Dr. W. Ogle were also guided and 

 encouraged by my father in their observations. The following 

 refers to a paper by Sir Thomas Farrer, in the 'Annals and 

 Magazine of Natural History,' 1868, on the fertilisation of 

 the Scarlet Runner :] 



C. Darwin to T. H. Farrer. 



Down, Sept. 15, 1868. 



My dear Mr. Farrer, — I grieve to say that the main 

 features of your case are known. I am the sinner and de- 

 scribed them some ten years ago. But I overlooked many 

 details, as the appendage to the single stamen, and several 

 other points. I send my notes, but I must beg for their 

 return, as I have no other copy. I quite agree, the facts are 

 most striking, especially as you put them. Are you sure that 

 the Hive-bee is the cutter ? it is against my experience. 

 If sure, make the point more prominent, or if not sure, erase 

 it. I do not think the subject is quite new enough for the 

 Linnean Society ; but I dare say the ' Annals and Magazine 

 of Natural History,' or Gardeners' Chronicle would gladly 

 publish your observations, and it is a great pity they should 

 be lost. If you like I would send your paper to either 

 quarter with a note. In this case you must give a title, 

 and your name, and perhaps it would be well to premise 

 your remarks with a line of reference to my paper stating 

 that you had observed independently and more fully. 



I have read my own paper over after an interval of several 

 years, and am amused at the caution with which I put the 

 case that the final end was for crossing distinct individuals, of 

 which I was then as fully convinced as now, but I knew that 

 the doctrine would shock all botanists. Now the opinion is 

 becoming familiar. 



