ath the ground of
Arachis. (747/1. Arachis hypogoea, cultivated for its "ground nuts.") I
suppose that the pods are not withdrawn when ripe from the ground;
but should this be the case kindly inform me; if I do not hear I shall
understand that [the] pods ripen and are left permanently beneath the
ground.

If you ever come across heliotropic or apheliotropic aerial roots on
a plant not valuable (but which should be returned), I should like
to observe them. Bignonia capreolata, with its strongly apheliotropic
tendrils (which I had from Kew), is now interesting me greatly. Veitch
tells me it is not on sale in any London nursery, as I applied to him
for some additional plants. So much for business.

I have received from the Geographical Soc. your lecture, and read it
with great interest. (747/2. "On Plant-Distribution as a field for
Geographical Research." "Geog. Soc. Proc." XXII., 1878, page 412.) But
it ought not merely to be read; it requires study. The sole criticism
which I have to make is that parts are too much condensed: but, good
Lord, how rare a fault is this! You do not quote Saporta, I think; and
some of his work on the Tertiary plants would have been useful to you.
In a former note you spoke contemptuously of your lecture: all I can
say is that I never heard any one speak more unjustly and shamefully of
another than you have done of yourself!

LETTER 748. TO H. MULLER. Down, September 20th, 1878.

I am working away on some points in vegetable physiology, but though
they interest me and my son, yet they have none of the fascination which
the fertilisation of flowers possesses. Nothing in my life has ever
interested me more than the fertilisation of such plants as Primula and
Lythrum, or again Anacamptis (748/1. Orchis pyramidalis.) or Listera.

LETTER 749. TO H. MULLER. Down, February 12th [1879].

I have just heard that some misfortune has befallen you, and that you
have been treated shamefully. (749/1. Hermann Muller was accused by
the Ultramontane party of introducing into his school-teaching crude
hypotheses ("unreife Hypothesen"), which were assumed to have a harmful
influence upon the religious sentiments of his pupils. Attempts were
made to bring about Muller's dismissal, but the active hostility of his
opponents, which he met in a dignified spirit, proved futile. ("Prof.
Dr. Hermann Muller von Lippstadt. Ein Gedenkblatt," von Ernst Krause.
"Kosmos," VII., page 393, 1883.)) I grieve deeply to he