lOi STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



tires of The Free Press and Tribune, of Detroit, were ready to improve an 

 opportunity to gather information for their readers. They composed a 

 part of our company. Four hundred species of plants were collected 

 and a full report of the results embodied in my report for 1888. In The 

 same year Mr. Wheeler and myself spent two days studying the flora of 

 Au Sable and vicinity and making collections. 



From time to time, numerous native plants have been examined and 

 records preserved of specimens furnished by W. A. Brotherton of Roches- 

 ter, Oakland county. 



My report referred to contained a list of 26 plants, such as are found 

 almost everywhere on the jack-pine plains, with the addition of 44 which 

 are very commonly found on such lands. Not one of these plants be- 

 longs to the large pulse family, which contains peas, beans, clovers, and 

 the like. Lists of plants were made contrasting the flora of the west 

 side of the State with that of the east side, in latitude 44 degrees and 

 40 minutes. 



A report of animal life in the pine woods was made; of wild trees and 

 plants which are ornamental; some peculiarities and possibilities of 

 Northern Michigan. 



Embodying the results reached up to date, "The Michigan Flora' r 

 was prepared by W. J. Beal and C. F. Wheeler, in 1892. Notes accom- 

 panying the names of each species of phaenogamous and vascular cryp- 

 togams were quite full, especially as to the localities. The flora was 

 much more than a mere list of plants; it contained a unique text, as 

 will be seen from some of the headings of sections: A map showing 

 ten regions of the State and lists of plants characteristic of each re- 

 gion; trees and shrubs of Michigan compared with those of the rest of 

 the world; why has Michigan so many trees nad Great Britain so few?; 

 plants peculiar to prairies; plants supposed to have immigrated from 

 the north; those from the north and west; planting a grove; planting a 

 wild garden; autumn foliage, with species enumerated for each color; 

 native shrubs bearing beautiful flowers, those distinguished for beauti- 

 ful fruit, or highly colored bark; native climbing plants; lists of small 

 evergreens; lists of bronze evergreens; plants for winter bouquets; 

 promising native bog plants; promising native aquatics; list of native 

 ferns for cultivation; plants indicating a fertile soil; trees valuable for 

 timber; trees of most durable timber; some wild fruits and nuts with 

 limits for improving; native forage plants; native bee plants; plants 

 for holding hillsides; plants for carp ponds; native and exotic weeds ^ 

 list of green-leaved parasites; native poisonous plants; botany in the 

 country school; list of native medicinal plants. 



DONATIONS TO THE COLLEGE. 



From the Gray herbarium of Harvard University, Cambridge. Mass: 

 Plants for herbarium; 10 species of Antennaria. 



From the Royal Gardens, Kew, England: 124 kinds of seeds. 



From the United States Department of Agriculture, Washington. D. 

 C. : Living specimens of buffalo grass. 



From R. H. Pettit, M. A. C. : Two species of puff balls from Minnesota. 



From the State Normal College, Ypsilanti, Mich.: Bulbs of white 

 adders, tongue. 



