RECORD: Darwin, C. R. [1866].10.14-1868.06.24. Sweet pea [comparison of crossed and self-fertile plants in height]. CUL-DAR78.133-137. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 2.2023. RN1
NOTE: See record in the Darwin Online manuscript catalogue, enter its Identifier here. Reproduced with permission of the Syndics of Cambridge University Library and William Huxley Darwin.
Oct 14th Planted the 4 other crossed peas.; not 2 rotted, & not till 24th 7° 30' A.m one germinated, after all the uncrossed other uncrossed had germinated; planted it. About 45° subsequently (ie say on Oct 26th 5 7° A.m) 2 uncrossed peas of other lot germinated & were planted so 45° younger. — say 48° younger. —
(Oct 30th 7° 30' A.m a second crossed pea marked by bit of zinc (ie 4 days after the 2 uncrossed.) germ. & planted, & 24° subsequently one uncrossed one germ. & planted; (this second uncrossed killed by Slugs) both marked by bits of Zinc.)
Nov. 5th First crossed pea 3 1/2 inches high to tip of leaflets; & 48˚ afterwards the tallest of the two self-fert. peas was only nearly 3/4 of inch shorter. —
Remember that crossed peas was unwholesome. —
(Nov. 13th Second crossed pea nearly 2.7 high, & the tallest of the 2 uncrossed peas (4 days previously ie at same age) was .6 of inch taller; so uncrossed has advantage.)
(Feb. 10th The crossed pea marked with zinc which is 4 days younger than the uncrossed self-fertilised peas now equal those in height—
The other crossed peas was which had germ 48 before the self was taller than the self-fertilised was bitten off by slug, so case for present spoiled. —
But both crossed pea look more vigorous & have larger leaves than the 2 self-fertilised plants.) /over
March 31' The crossed pea with zinc & youngest is now 3 ft ..7 in high, & the other crossed plant of which tip was bitten of is 3 ft .. 5 in high; whereas the w self-fertilised plants are only 3 ft .. 1 1/2in high— so quite conquered.)
(May 1'. The crossed Pea of which tip was bitten off is now at top of stake & 6 ft .. 8 inch — the other crossed pea is 6 ft. 5 in — average 6. 6 1/2 — The tallest of the self-fert. pea is only 5. 4. 1/2 — & 5 ft 3 in
Reduce & call stake 6 ft high. so
(6 ft. 6 in 1/2: 6: : 5. 4 1/2: x = 4 ft. 11 inches) when crossed were 6 ft high, the self-fert. was only 4 ft. 11 in
(May 12. These plants are now in flower: the self-fert. are of crossed course "painted Ladies": the 2 crossed plants, though produced from "painted Lady" have taken after their father & are purple like the "Purple"; but I think not quite so dark & with keel-patch a little streaked. —
I have crossed the 2 crossed plants; 6 fl. white Thread. — These 2 crossed & 2 self-fert. all grown in same pot.
Sweet Pea. 1867 in greenhouse.
Two plants, descended from Painted Lady & Purple crossed, had some 6 flowers crossed, & produced 6 pods, with average of 6.0 (Max 7. Min 5) peas per pod— which 36 peas weighed 51.12 gr. Therefore 46 Peas would have weighed 65.32 gr.
Ten pods spont. self-fert. under net on these crossed plants were saved & they contained on average 4.6 peas per pod (with max. of 6 & min of 3) & these 46 peas weighed 62.77 gr.
So crossed peas more numerous & rather heavier.
(A painted Lady raised from self-fert. seed, spont. self-fertilised itself & 19 18 pods contained on average 3.79 3.93 seed with max of 5 & minimum of 2. The peas were fine for 46 weighed 65.85 gr. —owing, perhaps to be their being few — Perhaps give only average number.
(Feb. 29 many of the self-fertilised seeds of both sorts have certainly germinated sooner than the crossed seeds.)
July 8 68/ Some crossed & self-fert. sweet Peas were sown in Box with Brugmansia, where the convolvulus wd not grow, but these grew well. — The tallest plants measured, — (These Peas belong to lots measured on p. 18 C.
In Greenhouse
July 8'
Aug 23' |
Crossed
5 — 8 1/2 inches 9 0 1/2 |
Selfs ft inches 6 — 5 1/2 7. 11. |
|
Produced 7 Pods |
Produced 9 Pods |
The self flowered first, & have always until last measurement on Aug. 25 beaten crossed Some of same 2 lots were sown out of doors in poor soil in Shrubbery & grow very dwarf owing to very hot summer & the crossed were beaten by self from Painted Lady & by selfs from crossed, but then growth completed (Aug 23d)
The tallest crossed was 30 inches high
The tallest self was 29. 3/8 high.
84 [+] 11 [=] 95
Sweet Pea 2d generation
(April. 3d 1868. In none of the several Pots, any great difference in Plants; now 4-6 inches high.)
June 1868 in Pot I & 2 crossed flowered first — in another Pot flowered at same time). (Pot IV. self- flowered first)
(June 24th The plants have now come to full growth.
Pot 3. Three crossed Plants
6. 0 1/2 feet Pot I 5 11 4. 4 1/4} produced 16 pods |
Three self- plants from Painted Lady, no doubt self-fertilised Plant 4. feet 9 1/2 5. 7 4. 8 1/4} produced 19 pods so more fertile! |
16. 3 3/4 |
15. —3/4 |
In another Pot the crossed was ahead of two self plants, but wind broke down the shoot & injured it & is now greatly beaten. — In another Pot, the crossed plant was eaten in twain by caterpillar, when this occurred it was 5 ft. 10 in high, whilst a self-plant from a crossed plant was 6.2 inches high & so crossed was beaten by the self-plant, but it was was higher 1 ft 5 in higher than a self from painted Lady in same Pot.)
Pot IV. Three crossed Plants Pot II 6 feet 9 1/2 3 9 1/4 produced 19 Pods [+] 16 [=] 35 4. 7 |
Three self- plant 5 feet 6 1/4 3 2 7/8 produced 13 pods [+] 19 [=] 32 3 10 |
add up Pots 3 & 4 together — 31. 5 1/2 |
27 7 7/8 |
[calculations not transcribed]
The p two lots are the grandchildren of the P. L., on one side twice crossed for 2 generations, & on the other side self-fertilise from A. probably for many generations.
[calculations not transcribed]
Sweet Pea. continued. I germinated at same time seed from Painted Lady plant, (which general consideration make me suppose long self-fertilised) & seed from a plant which had been crossed, by me viz Painted Lady & Purple. — Both sets of seeds were spont. self-fert. & were treated most fairly & sown in pairs on opposite sides & sown in 4 Pots. Their height when full grown were as follows.
[table not transcribed]
see Back of p. 18 A Table 55
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 29 May, 2023