LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL, 
r 
l. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 
Division or Borany, 
Washington, D. C., January 5, 1900. 
Str: Under date of November 8, 1897, a letter was received from 
Dr. Eugene A. Smith, State Geologist of Alabama, as follows: 
In connection with the work of the Geological Survey of Alabama, and as a part 
thereof, Dr. Charles Mohr, of Mobile, has prepared an elaborate account of the plant 
life in the State. Deeming this work a most important and timely contribution to 
our knowledge of the Southern flora, as it discusses the character, distribution, and 
general aspects of plant life in Alabama in a broad and philosophical manner, I 
believe that it would prove of interest to a larger section of our country than the 
region to which it iscontined by its title. In order to secure, therefore, a more wide- 
spread distribution, allow me to suggest the propriety of publishing it as one of the 
contributions from the United States National Herbarium. I may add that I am 
induced to offer this valuable manuscript for publication to the National Herbarium 
because under present financial conditions of the State Survey its publication would 
probably be delayed for an indefinite time, and thus its immediate usefulness would 
be impaired. 
Dr. Mohr is now and has been for several years a special agent of 
the Division of Forestry of this Department, and there being, there- 
fore, no obstacle in the way of accepting this manuscript, I earnestly 
recommend compliance with the courteous suggestion of the State 
eeologist of Alabama, Dr. Smith, and I desire to take this opportunity 
of acknowledging the obligations of this Division, both to Dr, Smith 
and to Dr. Mohr. 
The report is in part a complete enumeration of the plants of Ala- 
bama and in part a discussion of the various natural belts and areas 
of vegetation into which the State is div ided, with a full description 
of the vegetative characteristics of each. 
I have, therefore, the honor to transmit the manuscript for your 
tinal approval, and recommend its publication as Volume VI of our 
series of Contributions. 
Respectfully, 
FREDERICK VY. COVILLE, 
Botanist. 
Hon. JAMES WILSON, 
Necretary of Agriculture. 
