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A number of Agaricus melleus were capitated attached to their [myeelinne], [Rhyomorpha] [subcorticalis]) which formed a [mass] twelve or fifteen feet long & looked more like the matted roots of some tree than a fungus. There was a log about six or seven feet long with some thirty odd species of polypore fastened to the bark in their natural positions. Magnificent sections of toadstools & lichens tc mounted in frames under glass. Australian conifer cones about one meter in length. The different varieties of wheat, oats, rye, barley tc were shown in glass frames & the dissected flowers were mounted on black paper - the parts of its spikelets in their natural positions . thus: The economic collections and the plants from Egyptian tombs & mummies were very fine. The collection of corn (maize) was poor- a few poorly preserved nubbins that made my feet tired looking at them. A number of Rafflesia flowers preserved in alcohol - and in fact wonders without end. From Berlin I came direct to Zurich, making no worse mistakes in transit than getting aboard the wrong train & being put off therefrom at the first station. The brakemen & conductors along that part of the route will, no doubt, pass the fact down to posterity, that Americans are lunatics. Unless the character of the immigration changes, the "Powers" will be obliged to prohibit this landing of American riff-raff on European shores. Prof. Schroeter gave me a very cordial greeting and though I came in the middle of the "Semester" made arrangements for me to hear all the botanical lectures at the Polytechnicum. He speaks very good English, while Prof Stebler of the Seed Control Station neither speaks or understands it. The Polytechnicum corresponds to the State University except that they only give the Bachelors' degree. The courses are: Architecture, Engineering, Technical-Mechanical, Chemistry, Horticulture, Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering, and Scientific and Mathematical Normal. The University is a separate institution with the head quarters in the same building & like all the other German Uni's, gives the Dr's degree. Schroeter is a professor at the Polyt., & Dodel-[Porta] is the Prof. at the Uni. Prof. Cramer (microscopist) teaches general botany, plant pathology, and, use of the microscope. Schroeter lectures once a week on the Alpine Flora and conducts a two hour exercise in
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the Laboratory. Prof. Jaeggi, Curator at the Botanic Gartens, gives a two hour talk on the Swiss Flora, Saturday afternoon. There are some things that I like better in the U. of N. style of teaching than here - for one thing the students here are not allowed such free use of the laboratory, herbarium, library and collections. He is expected to trust more to his memory and note book, and if he puts in extra time it must be at his rooms. Again I think it is the better plan to have both lectures and recitations. Lectures only, makes it too nearly optional with the student whether he learns anything or not. Judging from what I have seen already I should say that a large per cent of the students are students simply because it is a very easy way to spend a few years and have a pretty good time. At a University you may hear lectures one semester or a dozen and stand for a degree when you get ready. Of course it enables the man who is so inclined to do some hard digging but it will ruin a fellow of very easy going pattern. What I want is someone to stand over me with a club to keep me in motion and in the right (2) path and not wandering all over the pasture, figuratively speaking, with no more definate purpose than to kill time. Then follow periodical intervals of awakening and a mild form of intellectual [grin] jams, not productive of personal enjoyment either to the writer or to anyone to whom he may pour out his woes while he has them. If it were not for the libraries and Herbariums one could do almost as well at home as far as Ph.D work goes. All that is wanted is literature, material and the ability to dig, - yes and inclination too. After having spent two and a half years in out door work the confinement necessary to study is rather trying and I am afraid I will not be able to stand it. My eyes are too weak for good microscopic work and I would as soon lose my life as my eyesight. So perhaps [ ] the plan you suggested of tramping around through the different agricultural regions will be the best one.
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though it will seem a pity to turn another cynic loose in Europe. "The woods are full" of them already. Please excuse the slang. It is such a rest after talking bad German all day to relapse into "American as she is spoke." Prof. Schroeter set me at work making drawings of the seeds of Poa trivialis & pratensis to show in what respect they differ, at least that was his intention, but it has already been demonstrated to the satisfaction of all concerned that according to my drawings, they are identical. Great head!- Great scientific discovery! Hadn't I better rush into print with it? I am now the sole owner and proprieter of a detective camera, a twenty five dollar Leitz microscope, a Zeisz dissecting microscope, and have ordered a Genera Plantarum. The Leitz has 3 objectives & 2 eye pieces, and a simple stand with no substage. If any one then at the Uni. wants me to bring a good microscope with me when I return I can probably oblige them - that is of course if I come back,.
