RECORD: Darwin, C. R. 1878.09.09. Cabbages / Draft of Cross and self fertilisation, pp. 7-8. CUL-DAR209.7.15. (John van Wyhe ed., 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and John van Wyhe, edited by John van Wyhe 8.2022. RN2

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-DAR209.7-8 contain notes on heliotropism (phototropism) for Darwin's book Movement in plants (1880).


[15]

Sept 9 Cabbages Obscure light (Etiolated)

Left. Hand

Right

8°. 9' foggy—Blind 2 muslins

8° 9

8. 25 from light (sky rather brighter)

8. 25' from light

8 50 to light—Towels instead of muslin

8. 50 to light

 

day brighter—sky clearer

 

9. 7 nearly same course

9. 7' nearly same course

9. 31' do do

9. 31 do do

9. 51 to light & right

9. 51 do do

10 20 same course

10. 21. same course

10. 38 same course

10 38 from light & left

11. 4' to light & left

11. 4' same course

 

──────

 

11° 7' fresh dot — slewed pot— less magnified

11. 27 same course

11. 27 to right

12 to light & right

12 to light & left

12 20' same course cloudy & little rain

12. 20' same course

12. 55 to light & left (put also muslin on, cloudy but bright)

12. 55 direct to L

1. 28 to right back on old line

1. 28 to L & left

2' to left (removed muslin day lights )

2° to L & from Light

2° 30 from light Day Cloudy

2° 30 to light

2. 57 to light & left

2 57 to light & left R

3. 30 from light — removed towel & put on muslin

3. 30 to R.

4° to right removed muslin

4. from light & to left

4. 23 to light

4°. 23 to Light on vertical glass

4° 45 O loose filamt

4. 45 to light

 

5. 15 same course

 

5. 30 back from light— rather guess for over Box.

 

6 from light & to left

 

7° 10 to light


(Used)

[15v]

13

Introduction

sufficiently impressed with the trouble truth and generality of the law, so as to insist on it and transfer impress their belief to others.

In 1862 I summed up my observations on Orchids by saying that nature 'abhors perpetual self-fertilisation.' If the word perpetual had been omitted, the aphorism would have been false. As it stands, I believe that it is true though perhaps rather too strongly expressed; and I should have added the self-evident proposition that the propagation of the species whether

[Cross and self fertilisation, pp. 7-8: "In 1811 Kölreuter plainly hinted at the same law, as did afterwards another famous hybridiser of plants, Herbert.‡ But none of these distinguished observers appear to have been sufficiently impressed with the
‡ Kölreuter 'Mém. de l'Acad. de St. Pétersbourg' tom. iii. 1809 published 1811 page 197. After showing how well the Malvaceae are adapted for cross-fertilisation, he asks, "An id aliquid in recessu habeat, quod hujuscemodi flores nunquam proprio suo pulvere, sed semper eo aliarum suae speciei impregnentur, merito quaeritur? Certe natura nil facit frustra." Herbert, 'Amaryllidaceae, with a Treatise on Cross-bred Vegetables' 1837.
truth and generality of the law, so as to insist on it and impress their beliefs on others.
In 1862 I summed up my observations on Orchids by saying that nature "abhors perpetual self-fertilisation." If the word perpetual had been omitted, the aphorism would have been false. As it stands, I believe that it is true, though perhaps rather too strongly expressed; and I should have added the self-evident proposition that the propagation of the species, whether by self-fertilisation or by cross-fertilisation, or asexually by buds, stolons, etc. is of paramount importance. Hermann Müller has done excellent service by insisting repeatedly on this latter point."]


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Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

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