To J. D. Hooker [1 March 1878]1
4 Bryanston Street, | Portman Square. W.
Friday
My dear Hooker
Should you think favourably of Mr Torbitt’s efforts after reading his printed letter, will you send me a short note which I may make use of, by shewing it to the D. of Richmond or any other person whom Farrer may advise.2
Please observe I shall not be the least surprized if you think the attempt hopeless. Farrer has shewn the printed letter to Caird who takes it up warmly & hopes to persuade the Agricult. Soc—to continue the trial.3 But I am convinced that paternal care is requisite for such experiments. Mr T— raises each seedling in a separate pot. I have ensured his continuing the experiment for this year by offering £100, which he says will be sufficient, that is unless he can get Govt aid—4
yours affectly | C. Darwin
Footnotes
Bibliography
ODNB: Oxford dictionary of national biography: from the earliest times to the year 2000. (Revised edition.) Edited by H. C. G. Matthew and Brian Harrison. 60 vols. and index. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 2004.
Summary
CD again asks JDH to support Torbitt’s project to breed disease-resistant potatoes. He has also sought support of Farrer, Duke of Richmond, and James Caird.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-11386
- From
- Charles Robert Darwin
- To
- Joseph Dalton Hooker
- Sent from
- London, Bryanston St, 4
- Source of text
- DAR 95: 451–2
- Physical description
- LS 3pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 11386,” accessed on 18 May 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-11386.xml