RECORD: Darwin, C. R. [1877].09.17-24. Yew - Berries for Endosmose. CUL-DAR67.17. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 3.2023. 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-DAR67 contains notes on 'bloom'. Francis Darwin explained: "His researches into the meaning of the 'bloom,' or waxy coating found on many leaves, was one of those inquiries which remained unfinished at the time of his death. He amassed a quantity of notes on the subject". LL3: 339. See an Introduction to these folders by Christine Chua & John van Wyhe.


[17]

Yew-Berries for Endosmose

Sept. 17. 5˚ 10 P.m

10 with bloom & tongued & closed in bottles with equal quantity of distilled water. —

Temp. varying from 65 or 66° at night to 70 to 74 during day, during whole time

Sept 19th 8˚ water with cleaned fruit far muddier 6/10 of berries emptied with great gashes, berries rather paler?? — Of those with bloom only 1/10 ruptured surfaces now wetted. At 4˚ P.m. the water in the 2 glasses equally muddy.

Sept 20' 8˚ A.m. only 6/10 of berries ruptured; & of those with bloom 4/10 — It looks as if rapid endosmose was cause of rupture.

It is remarkable that water in lot with bloom now muddier & slightly frothing, as if bloom contained some ferment. In both lots fluid with tinge of pink: 11˚ 30' the fluid with berries in bloom again slightly frothing. The 2 fluids small different

(over

[17v]

Sept 21. 8˚ Am. The fluid with bloom certainly more muddy certainly smell more vinous — & less acid reaction with litmus paper. — slightly frothing again. — The bloom seems to act chemically.

Sept 22d. 8˚ Still same difference water with bloom more muddy & frothing somewhat.—

― 23d now no difference in muddiness of fluid: the cleaned are frothing rather paler-coloured, thrown away

(Has not Pasteur shown that this is a [illeg]— ie Bacteria in the bloom of grapes.? —)


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

File last updated 14 June, 2023