44 FERTILISATION OF FLOWERS. [186* 



co me unparalleled. I should think or guess waxy pollen 

 was most differentiated. In Cypripedium which seems least 

 modified, and a much exterminated group, the grains are 

 single. In all others, as far as I have seen, they are in packets 

 of four ; and these packets cohere into many wedge-formed 

 masses in Orchis ; into eight, four, and finally two. It seems 

 curious that a flower should exist, which could at most fertil- 

 ise only two other flowers, seeing how abundant pollen gen- 

 erally is ; this fact I look at as explaining the perfection of 

 the contrivance by which the pollen, so important from its 

 fewness, is carried from flower to flower " (1861). 



" I was thinking of writing to you to-day, when your note 

 with the Orchids came. What frightful trouble you have 

 taken about Vanilla ; you really must not take an atom 

 more ; for the Orchids are more play than real work. I have 

 been much interested by Epidendrum, and have worked all 

 morning at them ; for heaven's sake, do not corrupt me by 

 any more " (August 30, 1861). 



He originally intended to publish his notes on Orchids 

 as a paper in the Linnean Society's Journal, but it soon be- 

 came evident that a separate volume would be a more suitable 

 form of publication. In a letter to Sir J. D. Hooker, Sept. 

 24, 1 86 1, he writes : 



" I have been acting, I fear that you will think, like a 

 goose ; and perhaps in truth I have. When I finished a few 

 days ago my Orchis paper, which turns out 140 folio pages ! ! 

 and thought of the expense of woodcuts, I said to myself, I 

 will offer the Linnean Society to withdraw it, and publish it 

 in a pamphlet. It then flashed on me that perhaps Murray 

 would publish it, so I gave him a cautious description, and 

 offered to share risks and profits. This morning he writes 

 that he will publish and take all risks, and share profits and pay 

 for all illustrations. It is a risk, and heaven knows whether 

 it will not be a dead failure, but I have not deceived Murray, 

 and [have] told him that it would interest those alone who 

 cared much for natural history. I hope I do not exaggerate 

 the curiosity of the many special contrivances," 



