120 SHORT ON WESTERN BOTANY. 



that catalogue; though the locality is confessedly a rich one, 

 a number of the species mentioned by Dr M., have never 

 been found there by succeeding botanists. 



From about this time to 1826, Lexington was the resi- 

 dence of ]Mr C. S. Rafinesque, who held for some portion of 

 that time, if we mistake not, the professorship of modern 

 languages in its University. This gentleman, in the general 

 scope of his survey of all the natural sciences, paid much 

 attention to botany ; and during his frequent and prolonged 

 excursions through various portions of Kentucky, and the 

 adjoining States, he formed large collections of animals, 

 shells, plants, minerals and organic remains. It is to be 

 regretted, however, that his discoveries, of which he professes 

 to have made many — very many — in each of these depart- 

 ments, have been published either in foreign journals or 

 ephemeral magazines, so as to be lost, or rendered inaccessi- 

 ble to the majority of readers; and consequently they are of 

 little or no use to the students of our country. 



From this hasty and very imperfect sketch of the labours 

 of our predecessors and contemporaries, we come next to 

 mention the humble efforts of ourselves and a few friends ni 

 this immediate field. For the last twenty years we have 

 paid some attention to the botany of Kentucky, and whilst 

 actively engaged in the practice of medicine, in that portion 

 of the State most inaptly called " The Barrens," opportu- 

 nities were constantly presented for admiring and noting th^ 

 varied vegetable productions of that interesting region. Id 

 many a long and solitary ride through these natural flower- 

 gardens, have our fatigues been lightened, and our spirits 

 cheered by their floral charms. Here at one point, the 

 ground was carpeted with the flame-coloured flowers oi the 

 dazzling Euchroma; and there enamelled with the parti- 

 coloured blossoms of Violets^ Gentians, and Trilliuws. 1^ 

 this spot, from amidst a tuft of humbler beauties, the majestic 

 Frasera was seen shooting up its pyramidal head, croAvned 

 with wreaths of its very peculiar flowers ; and in that, various 

 Sumachs overhung the path, emitting from their clumps o 



