37
new discoveries, to be continued. Proposes that Corti repeat the
Conferva experiments of
Desmars. Adanson does not know of Corti’s paper on “animalcules des infusions.” Finds a great
demarcation between plants and animals. Tried to verify Corti’s observations on Chara, but the
season was unfavorable. Does not dare to suppose that some animal entered the joints, whose
intestine movement was taken for that of the plant. Notes that his judgment will be deferred
pending further study.
AD 184 CORTI, Bonaventura, Reggio di Modena, 24 Mars 1775. 6 pp.
Thanks Adanson for the reply and sends the book requested, with an essay Observations
meteorologiques. Wants to study the influence of electricity on plant growth and mentions,
among other things, “worms” damaging wheat.
No annotations except subject headings and “j’ai repondu le 19 juillet 1775.” The draft of the
reply is dated “10 juillet 1775.” Discusses the
Tremella and
Conferva situations in detail. Read
with pleasure Corti’s remarks on the animalcula of infusions, some of which appeared new to
Adanson, telling how he began to study these under the eyes of Needham in 1745, leaving this
study at the age of 48 to work on the encyclopedia. Mentions briefly the “worms” in the cereals
and praises Corti’s meteorological observations, suggesting that he add microclimatological data,
e.g., soil temperatures, as Adanson did in Senegal. Also present is an early draft of his paper on
Tremella [cf. AD 290] and a description of a
Chara species from the Tuileries.
An undated and unfinished second draft of Adanson’s reply of 4 pp. is also present.
AD 185 COVOLO, [Conte] Giovambatista dal, Bologna, 12 Gennajo [Jan.] 1765.
In Italian. Reports having seen a review of Familles des plantes in the newspaper. Sends his
Discorso delta irritabilita and asks for Adanson to send his book together with price for same.
D’ALEMBERT. Cf. Alembert, [AD 139].
AD 186 CUSSON, [Pierre] (1727–1783), Montpellier, 13 Mars 1771. 3 pp.
Asks Adanson for seeds or specimens of different species of plants of the Parsnip family
(Umbelliferae).
AD 187 CUSSON, [Pierre] Montpellier, 12 Aoust [sic] 1772. 4 pp.
Acknowledges a letter from Adanson via Mr. Imbert accompanying some umbelliferous plants
or seeds; criticizes Linnaeus for some of his genera in his Species plantarum [3rd ed.?] and gives
a list of umbellifers that he has not yet seen, with discussions of some species.
Annotated: “Repondu le 30 Aout 1772 et envoyé 21 pl. en herbier et 11 en graines” and added
pertinent page numbers from
Familles des plantes.
AD 188 CUSSON, [Pierre], Montpellier, 26 Octobre 1772. 4 pp.
38
Discusses and inquires about umbellifers, of which seeds had been sent by Adanson or were
asked for.
Draft of reply written on available spaces and interlineally.
AD 189 DICK, Johann Jacob (1742–1775), Spietz près Berne [Switzerland], [before 1 Febr.
1771]. 1 pp.
The last page of a longer letter; of interest for its catalogue of plants wanted from Dick. The
preserved part has in Adanson’s handwriting the date 1771; Adanson’s list is dated “[premi]er
fevrier 1771.”
AD 190 DICK, [Johann Jacob], Bolligen près Berne, 10 Mars 1771.
Promises Adanson plants of his herbarium. Asks for fresh seeds for a small botanic garden. Adds
list of desiderata, as de Jussieu or the gardener of the Jardin du Roi promised to send seeds in
exchange for those he gave them during his short sojourn in Paris.
An annotated draft of Adanson’s reply, dated “6 avril 1771,” sent with a packet of seeds from de
Jussieu, to which Adanson added other seeds. A list is added of the plants Adanson received.
AD 191 DIDOT, P[ierre]-Fr[ancois] le jeune, [Paris], 4 Mai 1771. 2 pp.
Explains offer made to Adanson on behalf of Didot by Monsieur Audry, with Monsieur le Begue
as an intermediary. The prospect of a tax on the paper frightened the publishers considerably.
Each set aside his own affairs for a general meeting to consider what should be done, resulting in
more than 15 days of work. Time is not favorable to undertake a work that could ruin Didot.
Monsieur Audry negotiated without Didot’s knowledge, Didot gives M. le Begue the available
copy of the Dictionnaire du Jardinier.
AD 192 DUHAMEL DU MONCEAU, [Henri-Louis], Paris, [ca.1765]. 2 pp.
Sends Adanson a small publication [AD 52], in which he included all of the new information on
the subject [madder], especially the discovery of M. Dambournay [or D’Ambourney, Louis-
Antoine (1722–1795)]. Asks Adanson for the Académie report on this as soon as possible.
AD 193 DUHAMEL DU MONCEAU, [Henri-Louis], [Paris], 3 Mai 1772. 3 pp.
Because Adanson was named “Commissaire” for Duhamel’s Traité de la pesche, the second part
will be sent to Adanson for review. Inasmuch as Duhamel leaves Paris until Pentecost, he asks
for completion of the report before his return, and that Adanson arrange with de Jussieu both for
the report and to have the approbation of the Academy signed by M. de Fouchy, and to be
delivered to M. Delatour, printer.
AD 194 FONTANA, Felice (1731–1805), [Florence, ca.1767]. 2 pp.