From G. J. Romanes 24 March 1881
18 Cornwall Terrace, Regent’s Park, N.W.:
March 24, 1881.
I write to ask you what you think of the following idea as to a possible method of attacking Pangenesis. Why not, I mean, inarch, at an early period of their growth, the seed-vessels or ovaries of plants belonging to different varieties? If adhesion takes place, the ovary might then be severed from its parent plant, and left to develop upon the foreign one.1
If you think this a possible experiment, now would be the time of year to try it. Therefore I write to ask whether you do think it possible, and if so, what plants you may think it would be best to try it with.
All the cats I have hitherto let out of their respective bags have shown themselves exceedingly stupid, not one having found her way back.2
Very sincerely and most respectfully yours, | Geo. J. Romanes.
Footnotes
Summary
Suggests transplanting plant ovaries to test Pangenesis.
None of the cats released in experiment found its way back.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-13097
- From
- George John Romanes
- To
- Charles Robert Darwin
- Sent from
- London, Cornwall Terrace, 18
- Source of text
- , pp. 107–8
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 13097,” accessed on 20 May 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-13097.xml
