ncluding
peloric and other monsters (already Scott has done excellent work
on this head); and, secondly, whether a plant's own pollen is less
effective than that of another individual. Now, if Scott is moderate
in his wishes, I would pay him for a year or two to work and publish on
these or other such subjects which might arise. But I dare not have
him here, for it would quite overwork me. There would not be plants
sufficient for his work, and it would probably be an injury to himself,
as it would put him out of the way of getting a good situation. Now, I
believe you have gardeners at Kew who work and learn there without pay.
What do you think of having Scott there for a year or two to work and
experiment? I can see enormous difficulties. In the first place you
will not perhaps think the points indicated so highly important as I do.
Secondly, he would require ground in some out-of-the-way place where the
plants could be covered by a net, which would be unsightly. On the other
hand, I presume you would like a series of memoirs published on work
done at Kew, which I am fully convinced would have permanent value. It
would, of course I conceive, be absolutely necessary that Scott should
be under the regular orders of the superintendent. The only way I can
fancy that it could be done would be to explain to the superintendent
that I temporarily supported Scott solely for the sake of science, and
appeal to his kindness to assist him. If you approved of having
him (which I can see is improbable), and you simply ordered the
superintendent to assist him, I believe everything would go to
loggerheads. As for Scott himself, it would be of course an advantage to
him to study the cultivation at Kew. You would get to know him, and if
he really is a good man you could perhaps be able to recommend him to
some situation at home or abroad. Pray turn this [over] in your mind. I
have no idea whether Scott would like the place, but I can see that
he has a burning zeal for science. He told me that his parents were in
better circumstances, and that he chose a gardener's life solely as the
best way of following science. I may just add that in his last letter he
gives me the results of many experiments on different individuals of the
same species of orchid, showing the most remarkable diversity in their
sexual condition. It seems to me a grievous loss that such a man should
have all his work cut short. Please remember that I know nothing of him
ex