, is that
there are no intermediate varieties; but that a grain produces a plant
yielding either true Kubanka or true Saxonica. He thinks that it would
be interesting to sow here both kinds in good and bad wheat soil and
observe the result. Should you think it worth while to make any such
trial, and should you require further information, Dr. Asher, whose
address I enclose, will be happy to give any in his power.

LETTER 751. TO A. STEPHEN WILSON. Basset, Southampton, April 29th
[1878].

Your kind note and specimens have been forwarded to me here, where I
am staying at my son's house for a fortnight's complete rest, which
I required from rather too hard work. For this reason I will not now
examine the seeds, but will wait till returning home, when, with my son
Francis' aid, I will look to them.

I always felt, though without any good reason, rather sceptical about
Prof. Buckman's experiment, and I afterwards heard that a most wicked
and cruel trick had been played on him by some of the agricultural
students at Cirencester, who had sown seeds unknown to him in his
experimental beds. Whether he ever knew this I did not hear.

I am exceedingly glad that you are willing to look into the Russian
wheat case. It may turn out a mare's nest, but I have often incidentally
observed curious facts when making what I call "a fool's experiment."

LETTER 752. TO A. STEPHEN WILSON. Down, March 5th, 1879.

I have just returned home after an absence of a week, and your letter
was not forwarded to me; I mention this to account for my apparent
discourtesy in not having sooner thanked you. You have worked out
the subject with admirable care and clearness, and your drawings are
beautiful. I suspected that there was some error in the Russian belief,
but I did not think of the explanation which you have almost proved
to be the true one. It is an extremely interesting instance of a more
fertile variety beating out a less fertile one, and, in this case, one
much more valuable to man. With respect to publication, I am at a
loss to advise you, for I live a secluded life and do not see many
periodicals, or hear what is done at the various societies. It seems to
me that your paper should be published in some agricultural journal; for
it is not simply scientific, and would therefore not be published by the
Linnean or Royal Societies.

Would the Royal Agricultural Society be a fitting place? Unfortunately
I am not a member, and could not my