[1]

Sep 29 /73/

Experiments

Sow in good soil over & over turned germinating seeds of some annual Larkspur or Iberis &c equidistant by measure. — protected by lime — cut off close to ground & measure height for Quetelet's scheme — ask F. Galton what a 1000 wd do.

As soon as you can judge of average height, put all them on one side & also measure length of leaves & of petals or some organ to see of law of average symmetrical vars hold with the organs as with the whole individual

[in margin:] Tomato & Cross Aubergine

Then plant germinating seeds in sand or sifted cinder into s c. 20 of good Earth, equidistant by measure but planted much closer than above, & [illeg] centered, in larger boxes not very deep, seeds of same lot.— & make exactly similar measurements, [diagram]

[in margin:] Petioles of Cassia

[1v]

Possibly it might be worth while also to sow seeds in richest soil— watered with Phosphate & Nitrate of Ammonia & salt of Potash & Soda—

(2

to discover whether the law of vars under hard conditions, for the whole plant & for separate parts was the same as for [illeg] plants. Some of these plants ought to be protected & inter crossed to see if for 2 or 3 generations to see whether dwarfing inherited.

Puncturing back with poisons — like gall-insect — I tried formic acid & Hydrocyanic acid made slight lumps

Bloom on leaves & silky [coating] uses

Electric currents in tendrils &c &c

Petiole cut back — Hybrid Hyacinths — Crocuses, Tulips Beet— carrots — I cut longitudinally — Try Hyacinths transversely—

Strike Mimosa at the same time — test with long Hair or spun-glass

[2v]

Fertilisation of Melastomaceæ