RECORD: Darwin, C. R. & Francis Darwin. [ny].08.13-09.23. Leaves rubbed with Pumice. CUL-DAR68.94. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 4.2023. 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-DAR68 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.
[94]
Leaves rubbed with Pumice & drop placed on. — whole of right side; or in 2 last cases whole leaf rubbed equally, on margin & end move.
Aug 13th 9° 30'
Common Laurel (right side) Sept 1 no injury
Mahonia (right side) Aug 20th a little brown. Aug 23 8 AM Brown a little clearer. (26th do) Sept I spot quite brown
Holly (do) Sept 1. not at all injured
Ivy (do) Sept I not at all injured
Bay (do) Sept 1 no injury) Sept 6th New leaf trace of brown on one spot. Sept 14. ribs brown where water lay & another spot where water seldom lay also brown
Chines Box (whole leaf) Sept 1 no difference; submerged leaves fresh, a little darkened
Sept 14th new leaf a little browning on ribs where water lay
Escallonia (whole leaf) 20th a little brown. 26th Sept 1 mid-rib slightly browned— Submerged leaves blackened & rotten
(Sept 14th The Laurel & Holly & Ivy not at all injured by being pumiced on Sept 2d)
(Sept 2d 5° P.m Fresh leaves of above (except Escallonia & Mahonia) rubbed a good deal more with pumice & water in the same way as before. —) But no difference through a lens perceptible between right & left sides.
(over)
[94v]
Sept 16th 15 rubbed last night for some time right side of Laurel, Holly & Ivy with Emery powder, & this morning 16th 8° 15' put on drops of water.
Sept 17th Ivy brown space
Sept 23d no effect on Holly or Laurel— Ivy slightly browned where water lay, but other parts of surface slightly browned: however the water often ran over other parts. —
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 13 July, 2023