RECORD: Darwin, C. R. 1867-1871.11.11. Tobacco in greenhouse / Nicotiana tabacum / Draft fragments of Descent vol. 1: 178ff and vol. 2, folio 57. CUL-DAR79.117-136. (John van Wyhe ed., 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and John van Wyhe, edited by John van Wyhe 3.2023. RN3
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).
(94
Tobacco in greenhouse 1867
Nicotiana tabacum
12 flowers crossed gave 10 pods & 5 pods contained by weight only 14.40 gr. of seed.
12 fl. self-fert. gave 11 pods & 5 pods contained 25.78 gr. of seed; so very much fewer, more as far as 5 pods serves.
I was so much surprised at this result that I cleaned 5 more pods of each sort. & now
10 crossed pods weighed 31.70 gr of seed
10 self-pods [do] 47.67 gr.
So self much more fertile!!!
(May 20' 68/ In Pot 2 & 3 the self- finest plants.)
(July 9th 68. Tallest plant on each side measured
Pot. |
Crossed— |
Self |
Crossed Dec. 6— 1868 |
Self |
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[excised table] |
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(& going to flower) |
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In all selfs flowered first |
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Plants crowded in this Pot |
The Pots were rather small, so plants did not nearly attain full height─
In all selfs flowered first
Plant crowded in this Pot
During Oct. or November I sow 2 Pots A & B thickly with some of same seed to see if any mistake, & now Dec 6 /68/ the plants to tips of leaves are 13-14 inches & no marked difference in either Pot on either side.— /over
[94v]
Jan 24 /69/ In Pot A (of bottom of last page)
Tallest crossed plant to tip of leaves 18 1/2 inch
[do] self [do] [do] [do] [do] 22
22 [-] 18. 1/2 [=] 3.1/2
In Pot B tallest crossed [do] [do] [do] 26 1/2
[do] Self [do] [do] 24 1/2
These plants were very crowded, & selfs no decided advantage, & in former experiment the very crowded plants did not show so much inequality, which is exactly reverse of all ordinary cases. —
(June 15. 1869 I also raised some plants from same seed as above, for the sake of fresh crossing & kept 2 plants in each large Pot in Hothouse, [text excised]
now plants are [text excised]
selfs are 2 [text excised]
crossed plants. —
94
31.5 [÷] 4 [=] 7.87 Average
59.5 [÷] 4 [=] 14.87 Average
74 [÷] 4 [=] 18.5 Average
131 [÷] 4 [=] 32.75 Average
(95
Tobacco— Early in June 1868 9? — 12 fl. carefully crossed by plants in adjoining pots whilst young & 12 carefully self-f[text excised]
produced pods— 2d Generation?? Seed must be caref[text excised]
seed from 10 crossed weighed 3 [text excised]
― do self-pods ― 3 [text excised]
So that greater fertility of self-fer[text excised]
error or at least not [text excised]
Aug. 16. 69— the above seed pla[text excised]
(Sept 2 69. The crossed have germinated [text excised]
but I believe that seeds from diff[text excised]
constitutions; for a certain [text excised]
germinated before the other crossed [text excised]
(see over for measure [text excised]
Plants when full-
[95v]
May 2d 1870
[text excised] N. B The Plants in flower measured to tip of calyx, & those not so to tip of axis.
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Pot |
Crossed |
Self |
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VI |
49 4/8 |
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VII |
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47 6/8 |
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VIII |
55 |
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IX |
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59 4/8 |
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X |
63 2/8 |
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XI |
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70 2/8 |
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Total |
167 6/8 |
177 4/8 |
divide by 4. |
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make average |
X |
X |
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511 5/8 |
413 6/8 |
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Then add up both the totals |
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679 3/8 |
591 2/8 |
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& make fresh average dividng both sides by 17 |
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95
511.625 [÷] 13 [=] 39.35 Average
413.75 [÷] 13 [=] 31.82 Average
167.75 [÷] 3 [=] 55.91 Average
177.5 [÷] 3 [=] 59.16 Average
679.375 [÷] 16 [=] 42.46 Average
591.25 [÷] 16 [=] 36.95 Average
(95A
Tobacco. 1870
The 2 self Plants in Pot III A & B of last page, which were much taller than 3rd Generation the 2 crossed plants in same pot, had each 4 flowers fert. with own, & 3 on each self-fert plant fert. with pollen from same o some crossed plant in another Pot.— The seed from each pod put separately in watch glasses, & from both plants there certainly seemed rather more seed in the self-fert. Pot pods than in the crossed. (see next Page 95 B for measurement)
(95B
Tobacco March 10' 1871. Two self-fertilised plants, marked A & B (see last page for parent— were again self-fertilised & crossed by other crossed Plants, & from both these plants, seedlings 3d generation were raised of which the following are measurements up to tips base of tip & calyx.
Pot . |
Crossed |
Self-fert |
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self first flowered (N. B the little * plants measured t tips of leaves) |
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Crossed first |
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Crossed first |
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Self first |
A V. |
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Self tallest of Pair |
The crossed plant of this pair so badly injured by slugs that pair thrown away |
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crossed first |
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Self first |
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Self first |
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Self flowered first |
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Self flowered first; the plant in this pot badly injured by slugs; so that I had to injure all equally. |
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1162 2/8 |
1199 |
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(N.B The little plant measured to tips of leaves)
95B
666.75 [÷] 7 [=] 95.25 Average
557.25 [÷] 7 [=] 79.60 Average
495.5 [÷] 7 [=] 70.78 Average
641.75 [÷] 9 [=] 71.30 Average
1162.25 [÷] 14 [=] General average 83 Average
1199 [÷] 16 [=] 74.93 Average
(95C
Tobacco. Self plants in Pot B II. & in B
III5 (see p. 95 B) were self-fertilised & crossed by a dwarf Plants raised from seed from Cattell 4th Generation — see memorandum on opposite page of its nature,
InFrom Pot B 5, 5 crossed pods were obtained & 4 art self-fert pods obtained & placed in watch-glasses: the seed in the self clearly appeared the most abundant; so that when all the crossed & self- seed were placed in 2 glasses, that from the 4cselfs exceeded that from the 5 crossed—
InFrom Pot B II. 2 crossed & 2 art self-pods were procured, & here the one finest pods was a self, but the 2 crossed exceeded the 2 selfs—Manifestly no gain, apparently a loss of, fertility by the cross from Cattell's Plants
(April 20 1871. — But the seed from flowers crossed by Cattells plant which grew in Pots B2 & B5 germinated very decidedly quicker & in much greater number than in the 2 self- compartments on the sand — Many radicles with hairs whilst not one on the 2 self sides in this state.—
April 22d. Difference now more conspicuous many young plants on the 2 compartments crossed by Cattell showing much green, whilst hardly one on the 2 self- sides.)
(May 22 /71/ In the 2 crowded Pots of both parentage, the young plants from cross by Cattells plant, have much finer & broader leaves.)
(95D
Tobacco 1871 Two lots of plants raised from the self & crossed (by Cattell's pollen) 1871— summer & autumn, specified on p. 95 C. from two plants, as on (p. 95. B.)
Plants raised from Pot B II.
Pot
Crossed by Cattell
Self-fert
* means in this & next Page that whilst quite small, with leaves as large as Docks, the plants on opposite sides equal.— Red crosses means flowered first
—equal when about size of docks-leaves
to tips of leaves so small 2d. never have flowered
Plants broken by accident, & therefore measured to extreme tips of leaves, not being in flower.—
measured to tips of leaves at same time
long afterwards. This was great mistake
to tips of leaves, would not be far away
(Mr Norman do ink the figures in the columns in pencil)
(see over)
[95Dv]
I committed a mistake in leaving plant which were not in flower to flower, for they have grown unfairly in being left by themselves, the crossed having been cut down, But now Sept 22d-
about3 to 4 weeks after former measurements were made, I ha[text excised]all to tips of leaves — (& there are [text excised] wh[text excised]
fair, as calyx of flower
hardlydoes not ex[text excised]straighten leaves. — (But [text excised]
may use flowers, stating [text excised]
been thus favoured. — No [text excised]
It will be seen that in all Pots [text excised]
the crossed by Cattells flowered fir[text excised]
cover the 2 Pots in which pla[text excised]
whilst young.
95D
902.625 [÷] 14 [=] 64.47 Average
B.2
648.375 [÷] 14 [=] 46.31 Average
In Pot VI. Self-fert: I have reckoned one plant at 92 2/8B2
In Pot VI. Self fert. I have reckoned one plant at 92 2/8
[127]
Dec. 29 /70/ The tobacco which I have experimented on is N. tabacum. —
Cattells plant to be used now for crossing is certainly same sp. but leaves rather more pointed leaves & flowers a little
pinkerpinker, but identical in all other respect— except rather dwarfer plants, height being (almost in flower) only 41 4/8 inch to tip of highest leaf — whereas measurement to be made (& given on p. 95 B) will show height of stem very old plants — Thereiswas nothing in in conditions which will account for this smaller size — over[127v]
Self-plants will be again self-fert, & will be crossed with Cattell's plant.
(95E
Tobacco, 1871 cont. from last page.—
Plants raised from Pot. B5.
[Table partly excised, not transcribed]
Those which are marked on both sides in ink perhaps ought
towhen really measured to tips of leaves ought to have taken off the taller one, which alone flowered.(N B. ends of sepals from 1 1/2 to 3 inches beyond tips of leaves— so subtract , if leaves used)
95E
Pot
Crossed by Cattell
Self-fert
—measured to tip of leaves. at same time
accidentally injured, by fall, not in flower, measured to tips of leaves
measured to tip of uppermost leaf }
all these measurement made at same time.
to tips of uppermost leaf, perhaps it will flower & then this measure erased
Those which are marked on both sides in ink perhaps ought when really measured to tips of leaves ought to have taken off the taller one, which alone flowered
No, as the self plant were measured subsequently & had grown. I think comparison as it stands fair.
(B5) greater difference
[130]
743.125 [÷] 12 [=] 61.92 Average
447.375 [÷] 12 [=] 37.28 Average(B.5.) great difference
[130v]
[Draft fragment of Descent vol. 2, folio 57.]
(57
(Colour mammals)
has
the face ofa pale red face & a large surface of naked skin round the tail of a brilliant carmine red, which periodically becomes, as I was assured by the keepers in Zoological Gardens, even more vivid;In oneon the other hand in a fully adult malewhich&in thein some young animals which I saw in the Gardensthereneitherneither the facenornor the naked skin at the posterior end of the body showed a trace of the red colour.butFromFrom some accounts, however, it appears that the male occasionally or at certainseasons doesseasons does showmore tractraces of the red,colour tints. In the Macacus cynomolgus, the female has a well-developed longitudinal crest of hair on her head which is quite absent in the adult male, although a rudiment of it may be observed in theyoungmalein his second year, whilst young.*(51) Thiscaselatter circumstances is curiously parallel with the case of the malegiven in a former the chapter on birds, in which it was shown that the female that the males of in theGoosander (Merganser Castor) the adult female & young male have a longerwhich whilst young, has an elongated crest of feathers, like that on the head of the adult female; but that the crest, differently to the unlike what occurs in any other bird,thisbecomes shorter as the male grows older. Although the males[The text of this draft corresponds in part in Descent 2: 189 & 319-20.]
[131]
[calculations not transcribed]
95F
Tobacco 1871 Same lots as plants on p. 95 D & or E.
Seeds more or less germinated some very crowded in 2 Pots
From Pot B. 2
From Pot B 5
Pot IX & X
Crossed by Cattells Plant
Self-fert
Crossed by Cattells
Self-fert
(2. Crowded Pots)
[excised]
Weights
oz.9. oz
oz.4 1/3 oz
oz12 1/4
oz3 1/2
95F
175.625 [÷] 6 [=] 29.27 Average
101.5 [÷] 6 [=] 16.91 Average
B 2
202.75 [÷] 6 [=] 33.79 Average
105.125 [÷] 6 [=] 17.52 Average
B 5 greatest difference
B2
B5 greater difference
(95G
Tobacco 1871. Summer wet & cold The seeds from which plants on 3 last pages were grown, were when more or less germinated
sownplanted or sown in open ground in 4 rows, moderately near & parallel; so case same as if seed had been sown in open ground, & as crossed by Cattells geminated soonest gave some advantage to this lot.(July 15 1871 The seedlings now just above ground, quite minute, & in both sets crossed by Cattells plainly great advantage
From Pot B 2.
From Pot. B 5
Measured to tips of leaves
Crossed by Cattells
Self-fert
Crossd be Cattell
Self-fert.
[excised]
Weights
6lb. 9oz 1/2
2lb. 11.o
5lb. 10oz 1/4
5. 0 1/4
195.75
12
123.25
Red Cross means in flower or large exposed flower buds. Only 1 self in this state
It does not seem in comparison with 2 crowded Pots, that there is any rule of excess in Pots B 2 & B 5. — Add difference in constitution in the 2 lots — according as effects of crowding & exposure to unfavorable weather—.—
Measured November 11th 1871.
Leaves touched by frost
[95G]
Crowded
974.875 [÷] 20 [=] 48.743
704.125 [÷] 20 [=] 35.206
648 3/8 [-] 12 2/8 [=] 636 1/8
[135]
[Draft fragment of the discussion in Descent 1: 178ff]
[top of page excised]
barrierselection can act only in a [illeg] manner; for with man & other animals individuals & whole races
in bothof man & of other animals, may havehadacquired certain indisputable advantages, & yet may have failed tosu notincreasein numberor have wholly perishedfrom failing infrom having been inferior in certain other respects; but in the long run those individuals & races which inheritthe greatest number ofmost advantages, under whatever circumstances they mayhappen to be exposed, during a longcourselapse of time have been placed will ultimately prevail & multiply.[bottom of page excised]
95G
B 2.
478.75 [÷] 10 [=] 47.87 Average
286.875 [÷] 10 [=] 28.68 Average
greater difference
496.125 [÷] 10 [=] 49.61 Average
417.25 [÷] 10 [=] 41.72 Average
B5
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 9 January, 2026