46 Observations on depriving Floivers of their Anthers. 



from such mutilated flowers produce double flowers. Dr. Messer 

 gave notice of it to the Horticultural Society of Berlin, (Prussia,) 

 but with the remark, that he was less fortunate in experiments made 

 on flowers in his garden than on those which he had in pots, perhaps 

 because they were less distant from other flowers. The Horticul- 

 tural Society encouraged him to continue his experiments, which he 

 performed with great success. At the same time Prof. Bauer, Prof. 

 Schuebler, Mr. C. Orlhman, (inspector of the College garden,) 

 and myself, made experiments, in Tubingen, on the same subject ; 

 and the results are now concentrated as follows. We could not find 

 much difference between flowers in pots and the same flowers in gar- 

 dens. Seeds produced by prevented fructification, always showed 

 in one hundred plants sixty or seventy with double flowers, while 

 one hundred plants, when in the same ground, in a natural way, pro- 

 duce no more than twenty or thirty. Even the seeds of the former 

 produced flowers larger and more full, than in the natural way. In 

 some of the flowers, the number of the petals was multiplied from 

 fifty to fifty five, when in single flowers there were no more than 



arrived in New York, last year. Having little knowledge of the language, I at first 

 encountered a great many obstacles, which prevented me from visiting the circles of 

 the learned and scienlitic. I came to South Carolina, after I had wandered through 

 a great part of New York and Pennsylvania. I cannot sufficiently praise the hospi- 

 tality of the people of Charleston ; I am treated with the greatest kindness and be-, 

 nevolence, and they do every thing in their power to extend my views. I shall 

 finish, in Charleston, my studies of medicine, being with Dr. J. Edwards Holbrook, 

 Professor of Anatomy in the Medical College ; at the same time, I am delivering 

 lectures on botany in that institution. I was indeed surprised and delighted, to tind 

 more spirit here for natural history, than in any part of the United States which I. 

 have vigited. About seventeen ladies and fifteen gentlemen attend my lectures ; a 

 considerable number in the summer season. 



I have in view an expedition to Florida next March, the time at which the lectures 

 terminate. I shall visit first the Florida Reefs, (perhaps accompanied by Mr. Audu- 

 bon,) and penetrate from thence into the heart of the territory, to explore its great 

 treasures, and to lift the veil which now covers that part of the United States. I 

 expect to stay there until the sickly season begins, and then return to Charleston, 

 if God prospers my undertaking, to distribute the collections among the subscribers. 

 The subscription is only $10 for each member, and the money is returned in shells, 

 minerals, plants, insects, reptiles, and some stuffed birds, and seeds. 1 hope to pro- 

 cure about thirty subscribers in this city. If I succeed next year in my expedition 

 to Florida, and finish my studies in medicine, I shall very probably undertake an 

 expedition, on a larger scale, to the western states. I hope' the gentlemen at the 

 North will not oveilook such an occasion to enlarge their museums and herbariums. 



I now take the liberty, Sir, to offer a few observations only, for the pages of your 

 Journal. Very respectfully yours, E. T. Leitner. 



