692 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY, 



" 2. Wliat sort of a seed, and what kind of a fruit. 



" 3. How the plant appears otherwise ; its root ; its stem, if it 

 has any ; and its leaves. 



" 4. To make remarks on the occasional peculiarities of the 

 plant ; of my own on the smell, taste, etc., and of what others 

 say, of which one story in a hundred may be true. 



" If I could make an herbarium in whole or in part, it would be 

 so much the better. I might plant the more important specimens 

 in my garden. A good friend, who has the knowledge and the 

 disposition to help me, would be of great advantage (Mr. Young, 

 three miles from here). 



" Materials to be taken on excursions : An inkstand, with pen 

 and paper, and a box to carry my plants in safely. And when 

 possible, a microscope. Besides the box a few sheets of paper 

 stitched together in folio, in which to lay the plants and carry 

 them ; to be tied up in front." 



It was not long before Muhlenberg became engaged in corre- 

 spondence with other botanists. Dr. Johann David Schopf, an 

 officer of the Hessian troops stationed in New York during the 

 Revolutionary War, who traveled through the Eastern States to 

 Florida, after the conclusion of peace, in search of medicinal 

 plants, became acquainted with Muhlenberg and was assisted by 

 him. After his return to Germany he was the occasion of a cor- 

 respondence between Muhlenberg and Prof. Schreber, of Er- 

 langen, and this was followed by exchanges of letters with other 

 eminent botanists in Germany, England, France, and Sweden, as 

 well as with Americans. 



Like a true naturalist, Muhlenberg continued to exercise the 

 greatest care and thoroughness in observation and research. A 

 botanical excursion and note book of 1785 contains the following 

 plan of work : 



" This year I shall again keep a calendar of all plants as I may 

 observe them, especially when in bloom. When I am quite cer- 

 tain, I shall set down only the Linn^ean name ; when not quite 

 certain, I shall make a full description. Especially shall I try to 

 complete the descriptions of 1789 in those kinds of plants in which 

 many species are most exact. As I very carefully explored this 

 region last year, I shall this year visit other regions, namely : 1. 

 The mountains on the Susquehanna, in May and July. 2. The 

 mountains called Chestnut Mountains, also twice, etc. I must 

 further call upon apothecaries and take other pains to learn the 

 officinal plants, their virtues and their common names. I must 

 this year pay particular attention to the seeds, and especially to 

 describe all herbs as completely and exactly as possible, especially 

 when I am not wholly certain. I shall give particular attention 

 to those of which there are many species, such as asclepias, con- 



