RECORD: Darwin, C. R. 1868.06. [On sweet peas.] CUL-DAR77.29. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 9.2020 RN2
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 volumes CUL-DAR 76-79 contain material for Darwin's book Cross and self fertilisation (1876).
"Cattell, John, 1786/7-1860. Nurseryman of Westerham, Kent. CD often ordered seeds and plants from C. Many records in CD's Account book (Down House MS). 1860 CD to Maxwell Masters, the nurseryman CD generally dealt with. CCD8:147." (Paul van Helvert & John van Wyhe, Darwin: A Companion, 2021)
[29]
June 68
Formerly often noticed in rows of sweet peas, a false plant; Cattell thought owing to accidental of seed getting in.
Year before last I saw a bee (name in Porsf) depressing keels so I thought would cross flowers; sowed the different vars. which was separate will soon call, get in most of the clumps a false var. appeared.
The seeds of these false vars. were sowed separately, [illeg] separate x I believe care taken by Lettington so that no other seed could have got mixed; yet from a "Purple" pea which appeared amongst the "scarlets", this year there were raised mostly Purples, some painted ladies and some scarlet.
From another "Purple plant in scarley" the same were raised viz. mostly purple & painted lady, & one scarlet.
From a "Painted lady in scarlet" there were raised from bought seed of the "New scarlet" (& care wd surely have been taken) there appeared one painted lady.
These facts curious case of variation without selection
[John Cattell, Nurseryman of Westerham, Kent. Henry Lettington, Down House gardener 1854-1879]
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 1 March, 2023