The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online

RECORD: Darwin, C. R. 1859.08.20. I observed at Moor Park. CUL-DAR46.1.46. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 8.2022. 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 volume CUL-DAR46.1 contains Notes for Natural selection chap. 5 'Struggle for existence'.

"Leith Hill Place, near Dorking, Surrey. 1842 Josiah Wedgwood [III] bought it, about 4,000 acres, on resigning his partnership in the family firm, home c.1847-80 Also home of Margaret Susan Wedgwood (Mrs Vaughan Williams), before 1944 and later. It was passed to Hervey Vaughan Williams, and in 1944 on his death to Ralph Vaughan Williams, who gave it to the National Trust. They leased it to Ralph Wedgwood, his cousin and close friend." (Paul van Helvert & John van Wyhe, Darwin: A Companion, 2021.)

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1859. I observed at Moor Park, that when the Calluna had been cut, the surface quite covered with purple Heath, which would certainly be replaced by the Calluna —

Aug 20. 59 I have been looking at the square patch of poorest Heath beyond the Leith Hill Tower, which had been cleared of all Heath

There are several plants of grass, Carex, Potentilla & Rumex growing up, & I suspect in years would certainly become covered with vegetation, not Heath; ie. if all Heath wh were picked out, none

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of these plants grow on road — But I do not think vegetation would be quite same as on path, because of trampling & possibly ~~manuring~~ manuring from animals — But ~~the~~, I believe, a struggle for life even on Heath does take place —

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