The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online

RECORD: Darwin, C. R. 1873.09.02. Put 2 grand ripe purple plums in 4 oz of water each in separate glasses. CUL-DAR67.2. 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.

[2]

Sept 2d. 73 Put 2 grand ripe purple plums in 4 oz of water each in separate glasses. — I cleaned with a little ether & Handkerchief all the bloom off one, & the other had bloom pretty perfect. —

Kept them in for 6˚ at temp. ~~vary from 85° to 70 generally~~ about 80°.

Both plums swelled much & cracked greatly, but the water which had the rubbed plum was strongly coloured, much stronger taste & slightly more acid than the other, which was only slightly coloured, no doubt owing to the cracks.

Bloom evidently is protective.

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