174 BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 
tation of a country of the greatest interest; but which, 
) 
notwithstanding it has been so often visited by men of | 
science, was but imperfectly investigated, and still more im- | 
perfectly described. | 
Many Botanists and collectors, we are happy to say, are at i 
this time engaged in making known the vegetable productions | 
of the vast continent of America. In the United States several | 
accomplished botanists are prosecuting their researches; some | 
of these are resident on the west side of the Alleghany moun- 
tains; while the district around Kentucky is already success- | 
fully explored by Dr. Short and Mr Townsend. Dr. Asa 
Grey of N. York, is, under the auspices and with the able 
assistance of Dr. Torrey, preparing for publication fasci- 
culi of specimens of the difficult genera of N. American } 
plants; a fasciculus of 50 Grasses was announced to appear | 
duringthe present winter, and we are in daily expectation 
of obtaining it. Such a publication cannot fail to be highly 
useful and well received. The-Grasses, particularly, need 
illustration, and no one is better qualified to determine f 
them than Dr. Torrey, with whom they have long been a 
favourite object of study. "The labours of Mr. Drummond 
in Louisiana, have already been detailed in the present and | 
former series of this work, and what he has done and is doing d 
in Texas will be hereafter mentioned. The British settle- | 
ments in North America, especially on the east side of the 
Rocky Mountains, have been so well explored by the | 
naturalists of Sir John Franklin's expeditions, as we appre- 
hend to leave comparatively little for future investigation. | 
On the west side of that vast chain, the Andes of N. ; 
America, the indefatigable Douglas is still prosecuting his d 
researches, and, while engaged in preparing the present à 
notice for the press, the writer has the pleasure of | 
receiving letters from him, dated from the interior of the 
Columbia, N. lat. 48, W. lon. 119. 23. His object 
appeared to be to visit the country to the north of the Colum- 
bia, and near to the southern base of the Rocky Mountains, 
