[envelope]

C.D on a letter from the Baron de Villa Franca about varieties of sugar cane

1)

Mr Darwin received, as he informs me, about two years ago a letter from the Baron de Villa Franca in Brazil, stating that he had raised new varieties of the sugar-cane by planting distinct varieties in apposition. As far as Mr Darwin can remember he expressed in answer his doubts whether the growth in close apposition of the varieties could possibly affect the character of the bud produced by either variety; & he thought it more probable that the new variety was due to bud-variation, which might be formed by the condition to which the cuttings had been subjected & is in itself and interesting fact. Recently he has received through the Brazilian Legation a letter from the Baron, enclosing one from Dr Glass; Superintendent of the Bot. Garden at Rio de Janeiro, in which he minutely describes the process adopted a translation of which will be immediately given.

The Baron also encloses a statement by eight land-owners & distinguished men in Brazil, made before a public notary, testifying to the fact that the new & valuable varieties have been raised by this process. The subject is interesting, because so few cases &c &c

Enlarge a little on physiological importance. — Potatoes Hyacinth [Blotched trees] &c Vines

2)

Dr G. describes in detail with diagrams his attempts at first to graft together 2 varieties of the sugar-cane that he always failed, notwithstanding that he succeeded with another monocotyledon, viz Dracaena—

Then translation

Then Summary of the notices drawn up before the public notary. —

(Then a brief Summary of the whole)

Perhaps a short discussion on its physiological implications of case cd come in here best; but it is on the other hand advantageous to attract readers' attention early in the day

Would it not be advisable to express hope that Dr Glass would describe minutely the differences between the 2 joined varieties & the detailed character of the consequent new form?

The increased vigour of the new varieties thus raised, like cross-[fertilized] vars., deserves notice.—

[2v]

CD