PREFACE 



TO THE SECOND EDITION. 



THE first edition of the Florula Bostonicnsis was publish- 

 ed in 1814, for the use of a botanical class in this city. It 

 was intended to contain intelligible descriptions of the more 

 common and interesting plants found within a circuit of about 

 ten miles around Boston. Its publication was at that time 

 rendered necessary by the great deficiency of books relating 

 to American plants, and by the difficulty of obtaining foreign 

 works of a character suited to supply this deficiency. Similar 

 causes afterwards led me, in conjunction with my friend, Dr. 

 Francis Boott, to begin the collection of materials for a Flora 

 of the New England states. In the pursuit of this object we 

 performed several botanical tours, both on the sea coast and 

 in various parts of the interior. The most remarkable moun- 

 tains of New-Hampshire and Vermont, which, from their po- 

 sition and elevation, afford a different vegetation from other 

 parts of the United States, were visited by us, and some pro- 

 gress was made in the proposed undertaking. The design, 

 however, was subsequently relinquished, having been render- 

 ed more difficult by other engagements, while it became less 

 necessary, in consequence of the appearance of various Ame- 

 rican botanical works. The publications of Muhlenberg, 

 Pursh, Elliott, Nuttall, Eaton and Torrey, with other works 

 of a more limited character, have certainly contributed much 

 to fill the void which existed in American botany ten years ago. 



