RECORD: Darwin, C. R. 1865.11.05. Frank W. & Etty carefully examined. CUL-DAR109.A38-A39. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 11.2022. 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. The volumes CUL-DAR108-111 contain material for Darwin's book Forms of flowers (1877).
[A38]
Nov. 5 1865 Frank W. & Etty carefully examined the plants Bushes by Hanggrove.
A Female 93 7 berries on the large Bush, perhaps formed of 3 Bushes — last year only 9 seed & in 63 "some seed"
B not one seed on the 3 great male Bushes: none during 2 previous years.
C. 92 seed, male Bush mostly poor (see remark at end) During 2 previous years not one
D innumerable large berries — Last year about 28 seed & previous year covered with seed.
E 20 poor berries: last year 3 poor seed fruit one seed in each: Previous year about 2 dozen.—
It is clear that fruit varies according to year & that 1864 was poor year; & appearance of female tree shows that 65 an excellent year.—
It is clear that of the Female some trees are habitually more productive than others.—
[A38v]
Gradation. Female more or less fertile in number of fruit so that little difference between less fertile female & most fertile male slightly fertile & these to entire sterility — But this not all, fruit not only rare in number but in average number of seed & seed in size—
(7
The male Bush C is the most interesting as showing gradation, most perfect — During 2 previous years produced not a seed; this year it produced 92 fruit.— One of the best A branches was brought to me & it carried 15 fruit, but their fruit bore only 20 seed ie. barely 1.33 average to each.—
I took by chance from fertile female Bush 15 fruit & these bore 43 seed. ie 2.86 seed: many bore 4 seed, whilst not one or male bore 4 seed, & conversely only 1 in female bore 1 seed, whilst great majority on male only one seed.— Again most of the seed themselves from the rule were smaller.
Bush E male also bore poor fruit, What a gradation.—
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 1 February, 2023