it so
turns out that plants from short stamens are the tallest; but I believe
this to have been mere chance. My few crosses in Pelargonium were made
to get seed from the central peloric or regular flower (I have got one
from peloric flower by pollen of peloric), and this leads me to suggest
that it would be very interesting to test fertility of peloric flowers
in three ways,--own peloric pollen on peloric stigma, common pollen
on peloric stigma, peloric pollen on common stigma of same species. My
object is to discover whether with change of structure of flower there
is any change in fertility of pollen or of female organs. This might
also be tested by trying peloric and common pollen on stigma of a
distinct species, and conversely. I believe there is a peloric and
common variety of Tropaeolum, and a peloric or upright and common
variation of some species of Gloxinia, and the medial peloric flowers of
Pelargonium, and probably others unknown to me.

LETTER 626. TO I.A. HENRY. Hartfield, May 2nd [1863].

In scarlet dwarf Pelargonium, you will find occasionally an additional
and abnormal stamen on opposite and lower side of flower. Now the pollen
of this one occasional short stamen, I think, very likely would produce
dwarf plants. If you experiment on Pelargonium I would suggest your
looking out for this single stamen.

I observed fluctuations in length of pistil in Phloxes, but thought it
was mere variability.

If you could raise a bed of seedling Phloxes of any species except
P. Drummondii, it would be highly desirable to see if two forms are
presented, and I should be very grateful for information and flowers for
inspection. I cannot remember, but I know that I had some reason to look
after Phloxes. (626/1. See "Forms of Flowers," Edition II., page 119,
where the conjecture is hazarded that Phlox subulata shows traces of a
former heterostyled condition.)

I do not know whether you have used microscopes much yet. It adds
immensely to interest of all such work as ours, and is indeed
indispensable for much work. Experience, however, has fully convinced me
that the use of the compound without the simple microscope is absolutely
injurious to progress of N[atural] History (excepting, of course, with
Infusoria). I have, as yet, found no exception to the rule, that when a
man has told me he works with the compound alone his work is valueless.

LETTER 627. TO ASA GRAY. March 20th [1863].

I wrote to him [Dr. H. Cruge